Easy hikes and walks around Veurne

The pedestrian and cycle ferry is free and you can save a lot of distance

The demarcation post in Nieuwpoort-Bad (officially Demarcation Post No. 2) is a historical monument marking the northernmost point of the Western Front during World War I. The granite column symbolizes the extreme limit of the German advance and the place where the enemy was finally halted. A demarcation post (or borne Vauthier) is a memorial stone designed by the French sculptor and veteran Paul Moreau-Vauthier. In the 1920s, a total of 118 posts were erected along the entire 650-kilometer front line, from Nieuwpoort on the North Sea to the Swiss border. Today, 19 of these posts remain in Belgium. Symbolism and appearance: the post is about a meter high, made of red Alsatian granite, and is full of maritime and military symbols. The top: atop the post rests a Belgian soldier's helmet (Adrian type with a lion's head) on a laurel wreath. The sides: carved military equipment, including a canteen, a gas mask, hand grenades, and laurel branches. The inscription: the post bears the text in three languages (Dutch, French, and English): "Here the invader was stopped" Destruction and restoration in WWII: the confrontational text on the posts was an eyesore for Nazi Germany. During the occupation in World War II, the Germans ordered the multilingual inscriptions on the West Flemish demarcation posts to be chiseled away. It was not until September 1991 that the damaged inscriptions on the posts in Nieuwpoort were officially restored and rebuilt to their former glory. Historical significance of Post No. 2 The German attack (1917): Although the front on the Yser stabilized in October 1914 due to the deliberate flooding of the polders, the post in Nieuwpoort-Bad specifically commemorates a later, fierce battle. On July 10, 1917, the Germans launched a surprise attack (Unternehmen Strandfest) on the British lines on the coast to thwart an Allied offensive. Extreme limit: German stormtroopers managed to push the Allies back to the mouth of the Yser, but could not cross the harbor channel. The post stands exactly at the spot where this bloody advance was halted.

Wooden plank floor is being renovated, autumn 2025

"Westerpunt" is a six-meter-high architectural gem on the promenade leading to France. Studio MOTO designed it as a symbolic connection between the sea, dunes, and humanity. From the top, you can enjoy a magnificent 360° view of the surroundings. At high tide, part of the structure is submerged, making it seem as if you are literally suspended "above" the sea.

Really good in the early morning, when you are all alone

In 1968, Argentinian artist Oscar Bony had a family pose as a "living sculpture" on a pedestal. The performance, titled La Familia Obrero (The Working-Class Family), earned the family an amount exceeding their monthly social security benefits. In the spirit of May 1968, Bony criticized the double standards of a government that considered the family the cornerstone of society, yet neglected the poor working class. More information can be found on the information board.

In 1877, Benjamin Crombez commissioned the construction of a Neo-Romanesque church, intended for Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish services. Explanation: The St. Bernard's Church in Nieuwpoort-Bad is located a few dozen meters from the seawall. It is the only church along the Belgian coast whose main portal directly overlooks the sea. The first St. Bernard's Church was built in 1877 by commission of landowner Benjamin Crombez. He envisioned the place of worship as a place for all religions and faith communities. The building was destroyed during the First World War. The existing Neo-Romanesque church dates from 1923. During the Second World War, the building suffered considerable damage. The 1947 repairs therefore contribute to its current appearance. The yellow brick facades rest on a bluestone plinth. The stylistic distinction from the Gothic churches of Nieuwpoort-Stad, Ramskapelle, and Sint-Joris is immediately apparent. In the Romanesque style, the round arch dominates, while ornamentation is generally minimal. However, the stylistic purity has been somewhat compromised by the use of buttresses against the tower and aisles, a Gothic element. In 2012, St. Bernard's Church underwent a thorough restoration. This included addressing the facades of the place of worship. The artwork "Procession of the Dutch Army to Ostend" hangs in the entrance hall of St. Bernard's Church. The engravings depict the advance of Prince Maurits van Nassau and his army toward Ostend, following the victory at the Battle of Nieuwpoort on July 2, 1600. The drawings show how 885 people, primarily Utrecht students, re-enacted this remarkable procession on June 16, 1836. Source: https://www.nieuwpoort.be/sint-bernarduskerk-2

A nature reserve with a rare wealth of fauna and flora unequaled in Belgium, except in the Zwin nature reserve. The freshwater of the Yser, the only river in Belgium that flows directly into the North Sea, mixes with the salty seawater. Tidal action has created a unique mudflat and salt marsh area, an ideal breeding ground for a rich variety of benthic organisms such as worms, snails, seaweed, shells, and crustaceans. The constant interaction between salt and freshwater in the Yser estuary also creates a unique biotope, characterized by salt-tolerant plants such as samphire, sea plantain, and sea aster. Source: https://www.dekust.be/natuurreservaat-de-ijzermonding