Knokke-Heist, that posh seaside town where you’re more likely to spot a Bentley than a bicycle, transforms for five days in October 2025 into a roaring paradise for car enthusiasts. The Zoute Grand Prix, once a humble rally for a bunch of wealthy mates with too much time on their hands, has reinvented itself. Forget the old long-weekend formula of shiny cars; this is now the Zoute Grand Prix Car Week, a five-day extravaganza from 8 to 12 October 2025 that sets the Belgian coast ablaze. And trust me, this is a party that’ll make even the most hardened car-hater do a double take.
Let’s cut to the chase: this isn’t just a car show. It’s a celebration of everything with four wheels, a growling engine, and a hefty dose of swagger. The team, led by Koen Van Hout, has big plans. After a near-death experience with financial woes – a five-million-euro debt isn’t exactly pocket change – the event was saved by some savvy investors, including entrepreneur Marc Coucke. Now it’s ready to show the world that Belgium can do more than whip up waffles and brew beer. They’re aiming high, wanting to turn the Zoute Grand Prix Car Week into a kind of Belgian Monterey Car Week, complete with the grandeur of Pebble Beach’s Concours d’Elegance. Ambitious? You bet. Impossible? Not a chance.
The event kicks off with a new kid on the block: the Zoute Iconic Rally. This isn’t a Sunday drive for your granddad’s old Volvo. This one-day rally is exclusively for cars built between 1976 and 2005 – think legends like the Ferrari F40, Lamborghini Countach, or Bugatti Veyron. These are the cars you had plastered on your bedroom wall as a teenager, and now they’re getting the spotlight they deserve. It’s a clever move, as these ‘80s and ‘90s icons are often overlooked in classic rallies. Expect a parade of roaring engines and designs that still make your pulse race.
Then there’s the Zoute Rally, the beating heart of the event. For three days, 225 classic cars – built between 1920 and 1965 – tear through Flemish polders and Dutch dykes. This isn’t a race for speed freaks but a regularity rally where precision and style trump horsepower. The start and finish on Knokke-Heist’s Zeedijk are a spectacle in themselves, with crowds gawking at gleaming old-timers that look like they’ve rolled straight out of a museum.
For those who prefer modern horsepower beasts, there’s the Zoute GT Tour, which gets a turbo boost in 2025. Participants can choose a one- or two-day format, with 150 sports cars and youngtimers (cars post-2004) tearing up the roads. This year, they’re throwing in a bonus: a pit stop in Antwerp. Yep, you heard that right – the rally ventures into the city, adding a fresh vibe and a chance to make the Scheldt city roar.
But it’s not all about driving. The Zoute Grand Prix Gallery by EY, a massive 11,000-square-metre pavilion on Albertplein, is the epicentre of the show. Seventeen luxury manufacturers showcase their latest toys, often in Belgian or even European premieres. Think electric hypercars like the Polestar BST Concept or the Land Rover Defender Octa. It’s like a motor show, but without the dull booths and with a serious dose of glamour. And for the cherry on top, there’s the Zoute Sale by Bonhams, an auction where deep-pocketed collectors bid on rare beauties. In 2024, a whopping 22 million euros’ worth of cars went under the hammer – a record they’ll surely aim to smash in 2025.
For the aesthetically inclined, the Zoute Concours d’Elegance makes a triumphant return on 11 and 12 October after a year’s absence. On the Approach Golf course, just a stone’s throw from Albertplein, fifty pre- and post-war classics gleam under the sun. An international jury awards the coveted Best of Show Award. This isn’t just a beauty pageant; it’s a tribute to craftsmanship and timeless design. And for the full experience, book a private tour with a guide who knows more about cars than your father-in-law does about his lawnmower.
What makes this event so special is the blend of exclusivity and accessibility. Sure, there are VIP lounges with Ruinart champagne and exquisite catering for the elite, but the organisers also offer free zones like the Car Boulevard on the Zeedijk. Here, thirty dream cars are displayed, from historic pairings like an old Lotus Elise next to a new Emira to modern supercars that’ll make your wallet weep. Even without a ticket, you can feast your eyes while munching an ice cream on the promenade.
And then there’s the atmosphere. Knokke-Heist breathes pure car madness for these five days. The streets hum with engines, the air smells of petrol and rubber, and everywhere you look, people are grinning like only a V8 can make them. It’s a place where you rediscover your inner child, that kid who raced a toy car across the kitchen table. And with an extra day in 2025, it’s only getting bigger, with more rallies, more cars, and more moments to marvel at four-wheeled art.
So, mark 8 to 12 October 2025 in your diary, slip on your finest shoes (or comfiest trainers, because you’ll be walking a lot), and head to Knokke-Heist. Whether you’re a collector with a garage full of Ferraris or just someone who occasionally dreams of a spin in a Porsche, the Zoute Grand Prix Car Week has something for everyone. And who knows, maybe you’ll be inspired to snag your own dream ride. For the latest and greatest cars, check out our marketplace, where you can search for and buy your perfect set of wheels: https://volty.be/nl/buy/cars/overview/.
