Cemetery at the entrance to Nieuport-Bains.
As witness the trenches and boyaux which run through the ruins of its pretty villas and fine hotels, Nieuport-Bains stood in the front line.
At the end of the dike the road turns to the right in the direction of Nieuport-Ville. From here the tourist crosses the dunes parallelly to the sea. Traversing the zone which formed the first line during the stabilisation period, the mouth of the Yser, protected by two wooden piers about three-quarters of a mile long and covered with sacks of earth, is reached. The Grande Dune, which General de Mitry attacked in January 1915, is on the right bank of the estuary, opposite Nieuport-Bains. The polders of Lombartzyde are somewhat to the south-west (See p. [53]).
The Hotels on the sea-front at Nieuport-Bains.
Broken fragments of walls mark the site of the station on the dune. In front are a derelict engine and train, which have been there since 1914. Near by is the entrance to the covered trench which connected Nieuport-Ville with Nieuport-Bains; same may be visited.
Return to the car and take the road to the left towards Nieuport-Ville (photo below).
Proceed to Nieuport (3 kms.) by the road (very rough) running parallel to the estuary of the Yser, past several shelters and artillery positions. After crossing the bridge over a small canal, the tourist comes out on the wharves of Nieuport. Once an important fishing port, little remains today of its former prosperity. A few fishing boats still give some little activity to the place.
Road leading to the mouth of the Yser.