Belgian Frontzate Fortification (Ramskapelle, Nieuwpoort, Belgium)
Photos - Info - Meteo - Tips - Geo Info -
General information about the Belgian Frontzate Line
The Belgian Frontzate Fortification is a fortification built by the Belgian army during World War I. It has been reconstructed and is located on the embankment of the old Nieuwpoort-Diksmuide railway line. This railway embankment played an important role in the flooding of the Yser plain at the end of October 1914. The soldiers first had to fill in all the holes under this embankment before the sluices in Nieuwpoort could be fully opened: first, they tried to bring water from the sea to the Yser plain via the Katteasas (via the Oude Veurnevaart), then via the large spillway of the Noordvaart (also known as Veurne-Ambacht, at the Ganzenpoot lock complex). The railway embankment thus served as a dike: the water was trapped between the Yser and this railway embankment. And that was for the area between Nieuwpoort and Diksmuide. The Belgian soldiers hid behind this embankment, while the Germans were on the other side of the flooded Yser plain, behind the Yser. The soldiers built many positions and small bunkers for shelter. These were mostly built with bricks, as there was still plenty of bricks available from the brickworks in Wulpen.
The railway line between Nieuwpoort and Diksmuide —officially Belgian railway line no. 74 —was gradually taken out of service in the 20th century:
- Passenger transport had already ceased on May 18, 1952, when the section between Nieuwpoort-Stad and Nieuwpoort-Bad was closed.
- Freight transport continued at a low level until 1974.
- The railway line was then completely decommissioned in 1974, and the tracks were dismantled in 1977.
After the definitive termination of railway activities, the old railway embankment was converted into a walking and cycling path. This former Nieuwpoort-Diksmuide railway embankment is now called the "Frontzate." It is along this road that one of the fortifications has been completely reconstructed. In short, it is a brick building dug into the old railway embankment and protected by many sandbags. However, you cannot visit the inside. It is unique in its kind.
Did you know that... the Frontzate is not an official cycle highway? At first glance, you might think it is, but it isn't. It has not been given an official F number. Reasons? 1) In some places, it is not wide enough, and 2) some intersections are not conflict-free. Hence: no official cycle highway. Although it has many of the characteristics of one. 😉 An overview of all official bicycle highways in Flanders can be found here.
Visitor tips Belgian Frontzate Fortification
General tips:
1) if you are looking for other nearby attractions, consult our Tourist map of Top.Vlaanderen.
2) You can consult our overview lists: by category ( e.g. timeline, size, ...) or by region
3) You can also always consult tourist services: see our overview of tourist services
Tip 1: If you enjoy heritage tourism, there are other interesting places to visit in the area: the site of Oud-Stuivekenskerke and the Dodengang. Both also have an observation platform/viewpoint. At the Dodengang, you can still see trenches from World War I.
Tip 2: If you want to get a better idea of how the IJzervlakte was flooded at the end of October 1914, take a look at these two locks: the Kattesas and Veurne-Ambacht (the spillway of the Noordvaart canal at the lock complex Ganzepoot).
Geographical information
Address: Frontzate, Nieuwpoort, West Flanders, Belgium
Geographic coordinates:
– Google Maps: Latitude = 51.0927408 – Longitude = 2.7821819
– Open Street Maps: Latitude = 51.092747 – Longitude = 2.782777
– Altitude h = -1 m
Indication of Belgian Frontzate Position on:
Tourist map of Top.Vlaanderen – Google Maps – OpenStreetMap.
Route to Belgian Frontzate Position: Route via Google Maps
Meteo
8°C
| Day | Condition | Temperature | Precipitation | Rain Chance | Wind | Humidity | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Today
22:00
|
 cloudy
|
8° | 10°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 18 Km/h | 99 % | 1026 mb |
|
Tomorrow
22:00
|
cloudless
|
6° | 14°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 13 Km/h | 94 % | 1024 mb |
|
Mon Mar 26
10:00 p.m.
|
 light rain
|
9° | 14°°C | 1 mm | 100% | 11 Km/h | 96 % | 1020 mb |
|
Tue Mar 26
10:00 p.m.
|
 cloudy
|
9° | 13°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 15 Km/h | 91 % | 1017 mb |
|
Wed, Mar 26
10:00 p.m.
|
light rain
|
7° | 9°°C | 1 mm | 100% | 35 Km/h | 94 % | 1016 mb |
| Hour | Condition | Temperature | Precipitation | Rain Chance | Wind | Humidity | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Today
13:00
|
partly cloudy
|
8° | 11°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 16 Km/h | 99 % | 1026 mb |
|
Today
16:00
|
partly cloudy
|
9° | 10°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 18 Km/h | 96 % | 1026 mb |
|
Today
19:00
|
cloudy
|
7° | 8°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 16 Km/h | 95 % | 1025 mb |
|
Today
22:00
|
cloudy
|
9° | 9°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 15 Km/h | 94 % | 1025 mb |
|
Tomorrow
01:00
|
cloudy
|
6° | 6°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 13 Km/h | 94 % | 1024 mb |
|
Tomorrow
04:00
|
partly cloudy
|
7° | 7°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 11 Km/h | 94 % | 1023 mb |
|
Tomorrow
07:00
|
 slightly cloudy
|
7° | 7°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 11 Km/h | 93 % | 1023 mb |
|
Tomorrow
10:00
|
cloudless
|
10° | 10°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 10 Km/h | 83 % | 1023 mb |
Internet information from and about Belgian Stelling Frontzate
Front seat:
Website – Facebook – Instagram – 
YouTube - Wikipedia (NL - FR - EN)
Nieuwpoort Tourist Office “Visit Nieuwpoort”:
website - Facebook - Instagram
Tourism “The Coast” (Westtoer)
Website - Facebook - Instagram - YouTube
Our photos of the Belgian Frontzate Defense Line
Our photos, videos, etc. are all (c) 2004-2026, Top.Vlaanderen, Belgium. They may not be copied or used without permission. If you would like to use them for a project, please contact us in advance and we will see how we can work together. If you would like us to photograph your own tourist attraction, B&B, vacation home, etc., that is also possible. Please contact us via our contact form .
Photos from the visit on February 5, 2026
Click on any of the photos below to launch the photo carousel....
Disclaimer: All information presented on top.vlaanderen has been compiled with the utmost care. It is also checked regularly. If you have any comments, errors, additional information, etc... please contact us via our contact form. We are not responsible for possible incorrect or incomplete information.
