King Albert I Memorial
Nieuwpoort, Belgium
A rotunda at the Ganzepoot locks, where the Yser plain was flooded in 1914 to stop the German army. A lift and stairs lead to a viewing gallery; a visitor centre explains the flooding.
The King Albert I Memorial in Nieuwpoort on the Belgian coast stands on the right bank of the Yser at the Ganzepoot lock complex. The circular monument was built to plans by Julien de Ridder, and the equestrian statue of King Albert I is by Karel Aubroeck. It is 25 m high and 30 m across, with ten columns built from bricks of the Yser plain. It was unveiled on 24 July 1938. A walkway along the capping beam at the top has orientation tables.
The site carries real historical weight: on 29 October 1914, Hendrik Geeraert and Fernand Ume opened the gates of the Veurne-Ambacht drainage sluice. The water flooded the land between the Yser and the old Nieuwpoort-Diksmuide railway line and helped stop the German advance. The Westfront Nieuwpoort visitor centre has a permanent exhibition on the flooding of the Yser plain, as well as Alfred Bastien's panorama of the Battle of the Yser in a reduced, digitised form. The complex was extended and reopened on 18 October 2014.
- Nearest town
- Nieuwpoort, Belgium
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 51.1296, 2.7595
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and October. Cold, short days in January. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Belgium: No motorway tolls for cars. Low-emission zones in Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent; register foreign vehicles. Motorway limit for cars: 120 km/h.
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- De ZwerverMotorhome stopover0 km from King Albert I Memorial · 28 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsDogs allowed
- Camperpark ZeesterMotorhome stopover9 km from King Albert I MemorialMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- camperpark VeurneMotorhome stopover9 km from King Albert I Memorial · 38 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- GreenparkCampsite12 km from King Albert I MemorialTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Kampeerautoterrein GistelMotorhome stopover15 km from King Albert I Memorial · 8 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Ter HoeveCampsite19 km from King Albert I MemorialTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
All campsites in Belgium · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is King Albert I Memorial?
King Albert I Memorial is in Nieuwpoort, Belgium, at GPS 51.1296, 2.7595. It is about 9 km from Veurne.
Can you camp near King Albert I Memorial?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is De Zwerver, about 0 km away; within 25 km there are 87 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass King Albert I Memorial?
King Albert I Memorial is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: The Belgian coast: Zwin to the Westhoek dunes.
What is there to see near King Albert I Memorial?
Places worth a stop nearby: Atlantikwall Raversyde (10 km), IJzertoren (13 km), Westhoek dunes (14 km) and Langemark German Cemetery (26 km).
When is the best time to visit King Albert I Memorial?
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)