In the foreground: Concrete Shelter and destroyed Wooden Pier.
Below: French Trench along the Beach, to the left of the river mouth. In the background: Nieuport Pier.
[NIEUPORT.]
The small town of Nieuport is of very ancient origin. As early as the 9th century its site was occupied by a castle built by the Counts of Flanders to defend the coast against the Normans. The burgh, first known as Santhoven, took the name of Nieuport (Neoportus) after the inhabitants of Lombaertzyde had migrated there. Situated on the Yser, the town served as a port for Ypres, and was an important business centre. It was besieged by the English in 1383 and by the French in 1489.
After a long period of stagnation, the enclosing walls were pulled down in 1860. However, with laudable respect for the past, the Municipality saw to it that the charming old-world aspect of the place was carefully preserved, by severely controlling the plans of all new constructions, and by prohibiting the use of materials not in harmony with the buildings already existent.
Nieuport, of which nothing remains but a few scattered ruins, was the scene of desperate fighting.