Where the Game Meets the Sea: The Real Opponent is the Sand.
Nieuwpoort, Belgium, August 2022
Nieuwpoort’s Town Hall: A Timeless Brickwork Masterpiece.
Nieuwpoort, Belgium, August 2022
Nieuwpoort has a large, old town hall next to a large, old church near a large, old lock system. And, of course, the obligatory seaside promenade lined with Belgian high-rises from the 1960s.
The most interesting find awaits inside Our Lady’s Church. As part of the "Flemish Masters in Situ" project, Belgium has placed artworks back where they originally belonged—in churches, town halls, chapels, and castles. Here in Nieuwpoort, "The Judgment of Cambyses" by Vigor Boucquet hangs above a confessional. To truly take in its baroque drama up close, visitors can climb a mobile staircase placed right in front of it. It’s a work of art that belongs exactly where it is—not in a museum, but in its own historical context.
Nieuwpoort itself, however, feels far less cohesive. A Flemish baroque painter in an old church, a massive 17th-century lock system, modern high-rises along the coast—the town feels as if someone tossed a bit of everything into a bag and gave it a good shake. And somewhere in the middle of it all stands a golden turtle.
Left: Nieuwpoort’s town hall: With its symmetrical façade, red brickwork, and decorative details, it reflects the region’s architectural heritage.
Top right: Nieuwpoort’s town hall: With its symmetrical façade, red brickwork, and decorative details, it reflects the region’s architectural heritage.
Nieuwpoort’s town hall: With its symmetrical façade, red brickwork, and decorative details, it reflects the region’s architectural heritage.
Nieuwpoort’s town hall: With its symmetrical façade, red brickwork, and decorative details, it reflects the region’s architectural heritage.
Right: A unique perspective in St. Mary's Church, Nieuwpoort: A towering staircase allows visitors to view both the church interior and Vigor Boucquet’s masterpiece from an entirely new angle.
A unique perspective in St. Mary's Church, Nieuwpoort: A towering staircase allows visitors to view both the church interior and Vigor Boucquet’s masterpiece from an entirely new angle.
Where the game meets the sea: This basketball court on Nieuwpoort’s promenade blends city life with the coastal landscape, though keeping the sand off might be the real challenge.
Left: A colorful statement on Nieuwpoort’s beach: This vibrant beach cabin, decorated with the word 'Westfront,' stands out against the traditional white huts along the Belgian coast.
A colorful statement on Nieuwpoort’s beach: This vibrant beach cabin, decorated with the word 'Westfront,' stands out against the traditional white huts along the Belgian coast.
A classic sight in Nieuwpoort: Rows of beach cabins line the sandy shore, offering a familiar summer tradition along the Belgian coast.
Left: 'Searching for Utopia' in Nieuwpoort: This striking sculpture by Belgian artist Jan Fabre features a golden sea turtle ridden by a figure, symbolizing humanity's perpetual quest for an ideal world.
'Searching for Utopia' in Nieuwpoort: This striking sculpture by Belgian artist Jan Fabre features a golden sea turtle ridden by a figure, symbolizing humanity's perpetual quest for an ideal world.
