Hidden Belgium: The horsemen who trawl the North Sea shallows

You often see shrimp fishermen riding huge workhorses through the streets of Oostduinkerke. It is one of the strangest sights on the coast.

Dressed in bright yellow oilskins, the fishermen ride heavy Brabant draft horses through the sea dragging vast nets designed to catch small grey shrimps.

The tradition is listed by Unesco as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage.

A restaurant called Estaminet De Peerdevisscher, next to the national fishing museum in Oostduinkerke, is run by a former shrimp fisherman who used to ride his horse into the sea. So he knows where to get hold of the freshest catch.