The King Albert I Monument, also known as “Westfront Nieuwpoort,” is a memorial located in Nieuwpoort, Belgium. It takes the form of a rotunda with an equestrian statue of King Albert I of Belgium in the center. It was erected to honor the King’s crucial role during World War I, particularly during the Battle of the Yser, where he remained alongside his troops to defend the national territory.
Galerie photos
Image par Ben Kerckx de Pixabay
Image par Ben Kerckx de Pixabay
Marc Ryckaert, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
© Pixabay
Description
The King Albert Monument, built on the initiative of World War I veterans’ associations, is located on the banks of the Yser River due to the river’s strategic importance during the conflict.
Designed by Julien de Ridder with sculpture by Karel Aubroeck, the circular monument, 30 meters in diameter, was built in 1938 and is supported by twenty brick columns from the Yser Valley. It features a promenade with orientation tables offering a panoramic view of the Yser plain.
Completely restored in 1973-1974, the monument hosts a National Tribute to His Majesty King Albert I and the heroes of the Yser every first Sunday in August.
