Corona measures

When?

Contact

Opening hours

Face masks required

Starting from Monday morning, at 8 am on 27 July 2020, everyone in Nieuwpoort, De Panne and Koksijde is required to wear a face mask in all areas open to the public. Cyclists are now also required to use a mask along the sea dike and in the various shopping streets.

You do not have to wear a face mask in Nieuwpoort in the following cases:

• when travelling by car, in motor vehicles;
• while cycling (but it is required on the sea dike and in shopping streets);
• on the beach (required in catering establishments);
• in natural areas (the Yser Estuary and the Koolhofput deep-water pit);
• during strenuous sports activities (required when going for walks);
• during work requiring a strenuous physical effort;
• while eating and drinking;
• if you have a medical certificate saying that you cannot wear a face mask;
• children under the age of 12 do not have to wear a face mask.

General requirement:

• in shops and shopping malls;
• in cinemas;
• in theatres, concert halls and conference halls;
• in auditoriums;
• in places of worship;
• in museums;
• in libraries;
• on public transport (including stations and platforms) for users aged 12 and over.

Safety on Nieuwpoort beach

A visit to the beach in Nieuwpoort is and always will be a must during the summer months. A beach plan has been prepared to ensure that everything is compliant with the corona measures. No need for bookings in Nieuwpoort, just a willingness to follow the beach coaches' instructions.

Five zones

Nieuwpoort beach, between the mole and Kinderlaan, is split up into five separate zones. The five zones are each assigned their own colour and symbol. Along the sea dike, the five zones will also have a single entrance that is visually easy to identify by means of beach flags and cabins according to colour and symbol. Beach users are met at this entrance by beach coaches who will assign them an empty spot within the zone during busy times or direct them to a quieter place in another zone if need be.

Safe swimming in Nieuwpoort

All lifeguard stations are open from Saturday 27/06 to Monday 31/08/2020, between 10.30 am and 6.30 pm.

Apart from the summer holidays, one lifeguard station (main station in Veurnestraat) will be manned: from Tuesday 1/09 to Tuesday 15/09/2020, between 10.30 am and 6.30 pm.  The Nieuwpoort beach rescue team is backed up by two first aid posts (first aid post 1 and first aid post 2) both of which follow the lifeguards' operating hours (10.30 am to 6.30 pm).

Steer clear of each other, suitably adjusted circulation plan

Separate cycling and walking trails

Cyclists and hikers should stay out of each other's way as much as possible. Cyclists are therefore required to give way to people going for walks along the harbour channel trail.

Signs

The icons, lines and arrows you see at the sea dike, along the waterfront, in Lombardsijdestraat, Albert I Laan and Marktstraat are there to help you walk in the right direction.

Albert I Laan enjoys low-traffic residential area status

Cars travel at a maximum speed of 20 km/hour, bicycles can move in both directions and pedestrians are also allowed to use the roadway.  Marktstraat is also a residential area.

Albert I Laan will become traffic and parking-free during the following weekends:

11 and 12 July, 18 and 19 July, 25 and 26 July, 1 and 2 August, 8 and 9 August, 15 and 16 August.

During these weekends the hospitality industry will be allowed to install terraces on the parking lanes.

How busy is Nieuwpoort?

Use the Coastal "Busyness" Gauge to check how busy Nieuwpoort is at the present time.