Nieuwpoort is a young and dynamic coastal town that draws families looking for an active beach holiday. The atmosphere is maritime through and through: sailing, fishing and good food are the main ingredients. The town is also home to the largest marina in northern Europe, and a little way inland you will find Nieuwpoort-Stad with its historic sights.
The beach
Think of Nieuwpoort and you think of sun, sea and sand, and of a promenade where no car gets in your way.
Long and well kept: the sandy beach is exceptionally long and averages around fifty metres wide, with cosy restaurants and beach bars all along its length.
A traffic-free promenade: the seafront walkway is car-free, which means children can roam about and you can get from your apartment to the sand without any fuss.
Everything on the spot: beach chairs, windbreaks, surf equipment and beach cabins are available to hire, with plenty of restaurants and bars within reach.
Swimming safely: during the bathing season there is professional supervision in the guarded zones, marked by beach flags. Outside those zones, take care: the currents along this coast can be treacherous.
The marina and water sports
Nieuwpoort is the water sports capital of the Flemish coast, and you notice it the moment the masts come into view.
The largest marina in northern Europe: the marina has berths for thousands of boats. Simply walking along the pontoons, with that endless tapping of halyards against the masts, is an experience in itself.
The gateway to the interior: because the town sits at the mouth of the Yser, you can sail from here via rivers and canals all the way to Veurne, Diksmuide and even Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp.
For every water sports enthusiast: the sea, the canal and the Spaarbekken reservoir together offer the best spots for almost every discipline, from surfing and kitesurfing to diving and kayaking.
Learning to sail: Nieuwpoort has excellent sailing schools where you can master the basics in a few days, even if you have never held a sheet in your life.
Fishing: if you want to fish, this is the place. From the pier to the harbour and the canals, this is one of the best-known angling destinations on the coast.
Nieuwpoort-Stad
Unlike most seaside resorts, Nieuwpoort has a genuine historic town centre a few kilometres inland.
A real market square: the convivial square, ringed by an old church, the historic cloth hall tower and plenty of terraces, is a rarity for a coastal town and the beating heart of the place.
Shopping: streets such as Albert I-Laan and Lombardsijdestraat can hold their own against the shopping streets of Belgium's larger cities, with familiar chains alongside charming little boutiques.
Between the market square and the quay: the central streets of Nieuwpoort-Stad also offer a broad range of shops, opening out attractively onto the quay with its views over the water.
A famous battle: the Battle of Nieuwpoort in 1600, in which Maurice of Nassau took on the Spanish forces, appears in every Dutch and Belgian history book.
The Ganzepoot and the wartime past
On an unassuming spot at the edge of town lies a lock complex that changed the course of the First World War in 1914.
Water as a weapon: at the Ganzepoot, where six waterways converge, the Yser plain was deliberately flooded in October 1914. That halted the German advance and created the front line that would hold for four years.
The King Albert I Memorial: the imposing circular monument with its equestrian statue commemorates the king who led the Belgian army on the Yser. From the platform you get a sweeping view over the estuary and the polders.
Underground visitor centre: beneath the monument, a visitor centre tells the full story of the inundation, with images and eyewitness accounts. Well worth a visit, rain or shine.
Further into the Westhoek: anyone wanting to delve deeper into this past can drive to Diksmuide and its Yser Tower, or to Ypres, in half an hour.
Nature and the Yser estuary
Right beside the harbour lies one of the most remarkable nature reserves on the Flemish coast.
IJzermonding
In Nieuwpoort, just 4 km from the town centre, lies the nature reserve De IJzermonding, a unique area where fresh and saltwater meet. This beautiful nature reserve, with its rich variety of ...
The Simliduinen nature area lies on the edge of Nieuwpoort-Bad and is a surprisingly peaceful stretch of nature close to the coast. This dune area of around 30 hectares consists of young dunes, ...
The Ter Yde nature reserve lies between Oostduinkerke and Groenendijk and is one of the most beautiful dune areas on the Belgian coast. It is a varied nature reserve where you can walk from ...
Spotting seals: seals regularly haul out to rest on the sandbanks in the Yser estuary. Your chances are best around low tide, so do bring a pair of binoculars.
A paradise for birds: the area is an important breeding and staging ground for many coastal and migratory birds, especially in spring and autumn.
Out with a guide: beach excursions and dune walks are organised regularly, introducing you to the distinctive flora and fauna of the dune landscape.
Food and drink
The fish restaurants of Nieuwpoort are known far beyond the region, and that is no accident.
Fish off the quay: at the fishing harbour the fresh catch is sold directly. It does not get fresher than this, and it is the finest piece of street theatre in town.
Famous fish restaurants: the restaurants here draw guests from far and wide, from sole and turbot to a generous seafood platter.
The shrimp croquette: the benchmark of every coastal brasserie, made with grey North Sea shrimp and best enjoyed on a terrace by the harbour or the promenade.
Belgian classics: give in as well to mussels and chips, a waffle on the promenade or a cone of chips from the frituur, with a Belgian beer alongside.
With children in Nieuwpoort
Nieuwpoort is very much a family destination, where there is plenty to do even without a theme park.
Playing safely: the wide beach and the traffic-free promenade mean you can let the children get on with it. At low tide shallow pools are left behind for the youngest ones.
Watching the boats: the spectacle of yachts and fishing boats coming and going through the harbour channel keeps children busy for a surprisingly long time, especially with an ice cream in hand.
A trip out to sea: sail aboard the Seastar along the coast towards Ostend, or take the Yserstar up the Yser to Diksmuide.
Neighbours with character:Oostduinkerke with its horseback fishermen and Koksijde with its abbey ruins are just round the corner, while Westende offers a quiet family beach.
Towns full of history: ideal day trips include the UNESCO heritage of Bruges, lively Ghent and the moving wartime past of Ypres.
Staying in Nieuwpoort
From an apartment overlooking the marina to a tent behind the dunes, there is an option here for every budget.
Apartments by the sea: the most popular choice on the Flemish coast. An apartment on the promenade means waking up to a view of the surf or of the harbour masts.
Holiday homes and villas: anyone coming with the family or a larger group has plenty of room in a holiday home, often with a garden and within walking distance of the beach.
Hotels and B&Bs: from a cosy bed and breakfast to a well-appointed hotel, ideal for a short weekend away with no fuss.
Camping by the dunes: at the campsites nearby you sleep with the sound of wind and sea in the background. Have a look at the last minutes too for a sharp deal.
Practical information
A few things are handy to know before you set off for the coast.
Getting there: Nieuwpoort is easily reached by car via the E40, taking the exit towards Nieuwpoort or Veurne. From the Netherlands you drive via Antwerp and Bruges, reaching the coast in around two hours.
By public transport: get off the train at Ostend or Diksmuide and take the bus or the coastal tram, which brings you right up to the beach in Nieuwpoort-Bad.
Parking: in high season finding a space near the promenade and the harbour takes patience, and charges often apply there too. Come early, or park a little further out and walk or cycle the last stretch.
Best time to visit: July and August are the busiest and warmest, but spring and autumn offer calm, beautiful light and empty beaches. If you want to see the seals, plan your visit around low tide.
To sum it all up briefly, these are the things you should not miss in Nieuwpoort.
Out along the coast: visit the resorts of Ostend and Knokke-Heist, or historic Bruges with its wealth of sights.
Active into the hinterland: discover the coast along one of the many lovely cycling, walking, riding and skating routes.
Clearing your head: blowing away the cobwebs on a long beach walk is the finest way to leave the bustle behind.
Sailing, fishing, fine dining and a town with a story to tell: in Nieuwpoort the sea, the harbour and history come together into a destination where you can be as active or as relaxed as you like.
