White dolphin spotted off Belgian coast after Netherlands visit: 'Could it be the same one from the 80s?'

Remember him? That ghostly white figure that was swimming along the Dutch coast a few weeks ago, getting everyone into a right flap? Well, grab your binoculars again, because the white dolphin has been spotted off the Belgian coast. Off Blankenberge, to be precise. And I tell you what: this creature has more wanderlust than a backpacker with an Interrail pass.

It all started with a bit of hushed gossip among Zeeland fishermen. Then he turned up off the mouth of the Western Scheldt, where dozens of day-trippers captured him on their phones. Now, is this the famous Chinese white dolphin swimming about? No, hold your horses, that confusion was cleared up sharpish. This isn't a tropical species, but a proper beluga, one that normally belongs in the freezing Arctic. Yet, he clearly feels right at home in our waters. And if you ask me, that's the best bit of news this month.

An old acquaintance?

What makes the story even better? I'll bet this isn't the first time this white giant has hung around these parts. Old hands at the game – and by that I mean the seasoned birdwatchers and marine biologists I sometimes share a pint with – are whispering that he might just be the same beluga that appeared back in the 80s. Word has it that this could be an exceptionally old character, one that's been around for decades. That old boy would be well into his forties by now. For a beluga, that's getting on a bit, but not impossible. Just imagine: that old lad has been cruising our coasts for forty years, swimming past wind turbines and container ships, thinking to himself: "Well, it's no Greenland, but the herring's just as good."

Of course, we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves. But the fact that he's popped up again, precisely in the spots where he swam in the 80s, sets all my nostalgia bells ringing. I hear from those in the know that the appearance of such a beluga here is exceptional, but not unthinkable. And as that old fisherman from Zeeland said recently: "I know every dorsal fin in these waters, and I know that white one." Who am I to argue with that?

From muse to wall hanging

His popularity is unstoppable, anyway. Wherever he goes, people are setting their boats adrift for a glimpse. And the real fans are going one step further. I saw someone recently who'd got a massive tapestry with a white dolphin illustration for their house. You know the sort, an XXL-sized canvas, 180x120 cm, with him swimming through blue water. Like they want to bring a piece of the sea onto their wall. And I get it. Once you've seen such a majestic creature swimming for real, you want to hold onto that feeling every day. There are even canvas paintings of him now, a white dolphin in a blue circle. Art on the wall, inspired by nature. That's pure emotion, that is.

Where might you spot him?

If you're thinking of heading out yourself, here are the hotspots where he's been seen recently:

• Off the coast of Blankenberge: This is where he was last spotted, swimming northwest.
• Mouth of the Western Scheldt: A favourite spot, probably because of the nutrient-rich currents.
• Between Zeebrugge and Cadzand: In the border area where the Netherlands and Belgium meet at sea.

So, jump in the car, or better yet, hop on your bike, and keep an eye on the horizon. Who knows, that white dolphin might be swimming off your coast tomorrow. And if you see him, give him a wink. He might just wink back, the old sea dog.