Along the coast of Belgium, a centuries-old fishing tradition still survives.

In the village of Oostduinkerke, fishermen ride massive Brabant draft horses directly into the shallow waters of the North Sea to catch shrimp.

The horses pull wide nets through the surf while baskets hanging from their sides collect the catch. The powerful animals are especially suited to the soft sand and rough coastal conditions, allowing fishermen to work in places that were once difficult to reach by vehicle.

The tradition dates back hundreds of years and is believed to be around 500 years old. While modern fishing methods largely replaced it elsewhere, Oostduinkerke preserved the practice as both a cultural tradition and a working form of fishing.

In 2013, UNESCO recognized Belgian horseback shrimp fishing as part of the world’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.