Westfront Nieuwpoort

**An iconic WWI monument and museum on the coast. **

West Front Nieuwpoort is a monument to fallen soldiers and King Albert I of Belgium made in 1938. The monument itself is also an iconic symbol of the coastal city. Come and stand between its pillars for nice views of the IJzer plains and the city of Nieuwpoort.

In 1914, the Belgian army flooded the shores of Nieuwpoort and stopped the German forces in their tracks. Thousands of soldiers lost their lives, but the West Front was stable until WWI finally ended. At West Front Nieuwpoort, you’ll uncover the full war story at the visitor centre beneath the monument.

Guided tour: a great experience for history buffs. Learn the story of the Yser plain flood and Belgium’s WWI history as your guide walks you through the 6 water channels and lock complex of De Gazenpoort. You also pay a visit to the WestFront monument, a temporary exhibit, and end with the panoramic view at the top. The tour lasts 2 hours and is 60€ per guide.

• Panoramic view: head up to the top of the monument for a great view of Nieuwpoort and the coast. When the weather’s good, you can see the hills of Kemmelberg.
• See the painting by Alfred Bastien of the Yser battle. Well known for its massive canvas at 114m, you can see the painting in a new light at West Front. It’s shown digitally with info panels at the visitor centre.
• Kid Friendly: keep the kids busy with a free downloadable activity booklet based on the history of West Front. Only in Dutch, best for kids aged 8 - 12 years old.
• From 5 June to 15 September, temporary exhibit Building the Front - Clicformers is being held at the front of the monument. Kids can use blocks to reconstruct historic Belgian buildings like the Yser Tower.