The Plaatsduinen is a dune massif of 35 hectares that was developed in the late Middle Ages and borders to Oostduinkerke village. In dialect 'the platse' is the town centre. 'Platse means a place in English therefore a suitable name for the Plaatsduinen.' In the southern part of the area, we come across bushes, while elsewhereovergrown dunes and stuifduinenappear. The latter spurt up to paraboladunes which determine the strong level differences in a part of the area.These slopes are very clear and theyare reflected in the course of the streetswhich join the Plaatsduinen on the northern side.
