At Surfers Paradise, 90 volunteers collected 450 kg of rubbish and the entire stretch of dunes up to the Zwin estuary was made clean for the season.

It was also the 25^e edition because when Frank Vanleenhove returned in early 2000gcoming from a surfing trip to Australia, he had watched members of the local "life saving club" there every Sunday morning hun stretch of beach a thorough clean-up. When summer came, he organised the same thing at Surfers Paradise with the difference that the starting time was adjusted slightly: down under, they did this before dawn, here with us it is a lot more successful if you give people a slightly longer Sunday morning first. 

The initiative paid off because after a few years, the Eneco Beach Clean Cup took over with the result that all surf clubs along the Belgian coast got behind the idea, thus giving all beaches a good clean just before the season.

Eye-catchers at Surfers Paradise this year were a thick cord up to 20 metres long, a huge rubber bumper from some boat or harbour wall, and a few square metres of polyester lid, all washed up from the sea. Also some miscellaneous plastic, but by the mooie weather also left behind remnants of drinking parties that took place in the more remote dunes. Sometimes it was hard to find the spots where some kind of party had clearly taken place. It's a pity those revellers then just leave their bottles and all sorts of rubbish behind.

Especially around the Zwin estuary on the Belgian side so, a lot appeared washed ashore, this is clearly the place that is most difficult to reach and where the strong currents do their work. Noteworthy there were large trees that had been floating at sea for exactly months, perhaps even from the Atlantic Oceanreach the North Sea via the canal before washing up at our place. 1 tree was even too heavy to lift with manpower !

Thanks in advance to Eneco for the good organisation and the many volunteers who enjoyed the fresh air, sea, sun and beach at the same time. 

Next year everyone back on post, last Sunag of March 2026 !