Nieuwpoort Attractions

The town of Nieuwpoort (French Nieuport) lies on the IJzer 3km/2miles from where it flows into the North Sea. It is divided into Nieuwpoort Bad and Nieuwpoort Stad lying a little further inland, and is an important fishing port as well as the location of a fish processing industry. Other firms specialize in metalworking and chemicals which play an important part in the economy. The importance of tourism, which is concentrated in Nieuwpoort Bad, can be seen from the extensive yacht harbor, one of the largest in the North Sea. Its capacity is to be increased to 2600 moorings.

In the 12th C. when the IJzer had altered its course, Nieuwpoort was founded by Count Philip of Flanders as a fortified new harbor ("Nieuwpoort") for Ypres in place of Lombardsijde and in the course of time suffered seven sieges. In 1383 it was completely destroyed by the English. In July 1600 Mortiz of Orange defeated the Spanish on the dunes between Nieuwpoort and Middelkerke, but this victory was of minor importance in the War of Independence of the Netherlands. In the First World War Nieuwpoort formed the key to the position on the IJzer to which the Allied armies withdrew. On October 29, 1914 the sluices on the IJzer were opened and the polders were flooded in order the prevent the advance of the German troops. However that did not prevent Nieuwpoort being almost completely destroyed in 1918. After the war the town was rebuilt according to the old plans.