The Club

Nieuwpoort harbour

Nieuwpoort is a very popular harbour on the Belgian Coast, located on a crowded cruise route between the Netherlands in the East and Northern France or South and Southeast England in the West.

The harbour entrance is between traditional wooden jetties, beautifully restored in the last years.

On the East bank, the former Navy base has be restored to the initial state as a nature centre, where we are hoping to see North sea seals breeding again soon.

Well sheltered on both sides of a long channel, three yacht harbours provide berths for more than 2000 yachts.  The marinas are run by the local yacht clubs.

K.Y.C.N.

Koninklijke ("Royal") Yacht Club Nieuwpoort (KYCN) is the oldest of these clubs, and is located on the West bank, halfway between the old city of Nieuwpoort-Stad and the beach resort Nieuwpoort-aan-Zee.

The dock ("Vlotkom") hosts 350 yachts on pontoons with fingers, with full facilities, even a wireless Internet connexion is in test phase.  A boatlift is available for launching fixed-keel boats, launching from the trailer is possible on the Yser, no pontoon on this side, be ready to sail immediately, or ask for a tow.

The "new" club-house welcomes the visiting yachtman with bar and restaurant and sun terrace. See more on the Web site of the club...

Facilities

Nieuwpoort offers all facilities of a large harbour, there are several good shipchandlers, sailmakers, ship repair, riggers (for yachts up to 8 metres, larger yachts may need a rigger from Ostend).

There are many restaurants and pubs in Nieuwpoort-Stad, in Nieuwpoort-aan-Zee and along the road between the towns, some of them within easy walking range from the harbour.

A small shopping centre stands on the other side of the main road, very close to the harbour.  Larger shopping centres are available in Middelkerke and Koksijde.

Communication

Nieuwpoort lies close to the E40-A18 motorway (see more on road communications), giving fast access from Calais and the cross-channel links, and from Brussels and the rest of Europe on the other side.

The railway doesn't go further than Ostend (some Thalys from Paris go to Ostend), but a fast tramway runs from Ostend station to both East and West Coasts, the tramway to "De Panne" brings you in 40 minutes to Nieuwpoort, one start every 10 minutes during working hours.

The nearest airport is Ostend Airport, but it's easier to find a connection to Brussels National, then by rail or coach to Ostend.  Cheap fares companies are using Brussels South Charleroi Airport.  Sadly, this airport is very far from Nieuwpoort and the distance may ruin any advantage taken from the low fares.