The evolution of the coastal dunes in the western Belgian coastal plain

Two main dune systems exist in the area west of Nieuwpoort: the Younger Dunes along the present coastline, and the Older Dunes isolated within the coastal plain near the French border and also running parallel to the coast. Both systems have recently been subjected to geological and palynological investigations. The Older dune system is believed to be older than 4300 B. P. The Younger Dune-area appears to have a complex history. A stretch of older dunesediments (however not as old as these of the Older dunesystem) was found underneath the Younger Dunes, also near the French border. The age of these sediments is ranging from 2800 B. P. to 900 B. P. Furthermore two subphases of Younger Dune-formation are distinguished. Prior to the 14th century A. D. the dune area consisted of a relatively level plain. The completion of this plain marked the end of an active eolian phase. This phase started in the 11th century A. D., probably as the result of an increased incidence of storm-floods at that time (the Dunkerque-3 transgression). From the end of the 14th century on, large parabolic dunes partially buried the former landsurface. Some of them are still moving nowadays. Here the evolution of the Younger Dunearea near De Panneis described in more detail including aspects of the vegetational history of the dune area and adjacent coastal plain. Some attention is also drawn on the position of former coastlines