Nieuwpoort, Belgium:
Nieuwpoort is a municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Nieuwpoort proper and the towns of Ramskapelle and Sint-Joris. On January 1, 2006 Nieuwpoort had a total population of 10,855. The total area is 31.00 km² which gives a population density of 350 inhabitants per km².
In Nieuwpoort, the Yser flows into the North Sea.
A view of the beach and the pier at Nieuwpoort.
[edit] History
Nieuwpoort taken from the air
It obtained city rights in 1163 from Count Philip of Flanders. The Battle of Nieuwpoort, between the Dutch and the Spanish, happened here in 1600.
During the First Battle of Ypres also known as Battle of the Yser, in World War I, Karel Cogge opened the sluice gates on the mouth of the river Yser twice to flood the lower lying land, thus halting the German advance.
The old city centre of Nieuwpoort is located about three kilometers from the current coastline. Close to the sea, a new tourist centre has developed. Both parts form one contiguous built up area, connected by buildings along the Albert I Laan street and the fishing port. Besides Nieuwpoort proper, two small villages in the Flemish Polders are part of the municipality, Sint-Joris and Ramskapelle, Nieuwpoort.
Nieuwpoort is located by the sea, between the municipalities Koksijde and Middelkerke (or its towns Oostduinkerke and Lombardsijde to be precise). Because the territory of the town of Ramskapelle expands far inland, Nieuwpoort borders a large number of villages::
Nieuwpoort, towns and neighbouring towns. The yellow areas are urban areas.
N.58, "Pascin" leaving his home port
[edit] External links
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