The best running trails around Veurne

A modernist religious building, original in its form, the materials used, and its very simple interior: constructed of concrete, glass concrete, and steel, the color of its walls evokes that of dunes, its shape that of a hull. Its steel roof, covered with blue tiles, is shaped like two waves breaking into one another; it is surmounted by a copper sphere 1.20 meters in diameter and a cross 5.5 meters high. The light that enters through contemporary stained-glass windows, the work of the Chartres master glassmaker Gabriel Loire, has given rise to its other name, the "cathedral of lights." When the sun's rays pass through them, the effect is magnificent. A protected monument since 2005, it is well worth a visit.

World War 1, never forget!

Den Ijzer, always beautiful!

Wooden plank floor is being renovated, autumn 2025

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

Landmark on the pier of Nieuwpoort.

"Searching for Utopia" is a beautiful and large artwork by Jan Fabre. The turtle, originally installed on the beach during the Beaufort Triennial in 2003, appears to float above the waterbed. It was later moved to the city center, where it can still be seen today. Impressive! Source: https://top.vlaanderen/kunst/searching-for-utopia-jan-fabre-nieuwpoort-belgie/

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