Via Yprensis

At a Glance

• Start / Finish: Nieuwpoort-Bad (Westerstaketsel, Belgian Coast) / Wervik on the Leie
• Length: 71.5 km
• Duration: 3 days
• Elevation gain: ↗ 111 m / ↘ 101 m
• Stages: 3 (22–26 km; can be adjusted freely thanks to rail connections)
• Route: Nieuwpoort – Diksmuide – Ypres – Wervik
• Waymarking: blue signs with a yellow scallop shell, throughout
• Launched: March 7, 2023, in Damme, in collaboration with Via Brugensis
• Connection: between Wervik and Menen on the Via Brugensis Toward Lille and Arras
• Best time: April through October

Overview

The Via Yprensis does not begin on the beach, but in the sea: at the tip of the Westerstaketsels of Nieuwpoort, a good 500 meters out into the North Sea—the spot where, for centuries, English pilgrims who had crossed the Channel disembarked. From this pier, the trail leads 71.5 kilometers inland: the IJzer up to Diksmuide, through Boezinge and Steenstrate to Ypres and down the gentle slopes of the Ypres Salient to the Leie to Wervik. With an elevation gain of 111 meters, it is one of the flattest Camino de Santiago routes in Europe—and one of the most historically rich: few others pack so much history into such a short stretch of terrain.

For this landscape was completely destroyed between 1914 and 1918 and subsequently rebuilt stone by stone—both St. James’s Church in Ypres and St. James’s Chapel in the polder village of Sint-Jacobskapelle. Anyone who walks here for three days travels through a reconstructed world, where the Last Post is played every evening at eight o’clock at the Menenpoort. At the same time, the trail is part of a larger plan: Together with the Via Brugensis, which it joins in Wervik, it bridges the gap between the Dutch and French pilgrimage routes—and in doing so, bypasses the long trek through Paris.

Other Names

The name is a scholarly Latinization: Yprensis is simply called “the one from Ypres.” The sponsoring organization names its routes according to this pattern—Via Brugensis to Bruges, Via Brabantica to Brabant, Via Scaldea to the Scheldt. That’s why in Dutch you’ll just as often hear Ieper Road, in the historical documentation, the route is called the “medieval pilgrimage route from Nieuwpoort via Ypres to Compostela.” In German, this becomes the Ypres Trail, in French, the Ypres Route— This always refers to the same route.

There is a risk of confusion with two neighboring names. The Via Brugensis is the major north-south route from Sluis through Bruges to Arras; the Via Yprensis is its western feeder road from the coast. And the Western Front Way (also known as the Via Sacra), which also passes through Ypres, Diksmuide, and Nieuwpoort, shares the same route in some sections—but it is a memorial trail along the Western Front, not the Way of St. James. Look for the marker: a yellow scallop shell on a blue background indicates the Via Yprensis.

Who it's ideal for—and who it's not so ideal for

This route is ideal if you have three days and want to experience something during that time that will stay with you for a long time. 71.5 kilometers with 111 meters of elevation gain—the physical effort is never an issue, and that’s exactly why your mind and eyes remain free to take in what’s here: a landscape that was plowed under three times and then rebuilt. It’s perfect for beginners looking for their first real multi-day trail marked with a scallop shell, for pilgrims on a tight vacation schedule, for history buffs—and for anyone who wants to reach their destination by evening without having to hike uphill for five hours.

To be honest, though, it’s not for you if you’re looking for mountains, wide-open spaces, or solitude. For long stretches, the route follows paved paths along the riverbank and through fields; there’s a lot of asphalt, and hardly any shade—on a hot July day, the IJzer Dike is like a frying pan. The classic pilgrimage infrastructure is missing: there’s no hostel chain like in Spain; you’ll stay in B&Bs, hotels, or with private hosts, and it’s best to book in advance. And if you don’t want to be confronted with the topic of war, this isn’t the place for you—you can’t avoid it along these 71.5 kilometers, and that’s not the point anyway.

Route & Landscape

From Westerstaketsel, the trail leads across the Ganzenpoot— the lock complex, where six waterways converge — and then follows the IJzer Southbound: polders, nature areas, small villages, mostly along car-free riverside paths. The stopover on the first leg is St. James Chapel, the polder village with the rebuilt St. James Church and the pilgrim statue from 2007. Behind Diksmuide The trail continues through the IJzertal, passing by Boezinge and Steenstrate and reaches Ypres through the Vauban ramparts.

Starting at Ypres, the landscape changes: the flat polder gives way to gently rolling farmland. The ridges of the Ypres Salient are barely noticeable as an incline, but clearly visible as a feature of the landscape—and it was precisely these few meters of elevation difference that made all the difference between 1914 and 1918. The third stage runs south to the Leie, brushes past Komen/Comines, where Belgium and France share a border along the same river, and ends in Wervik, which grew out of the Roman settlement of Vicus Viroviacum. In total: 71.5 kilometers, 111 meters uphill, 101 meters downhill—the Camino de Santiago doesn't get any flatter than this.

Stages, Terrain & Difficulty

Three daily stages ranging from 22 to 26 kilometers—a decent challenge for people in average shape, but not a grueling test: no significant inclines, no mountain passes, no steep climbs. The challenge lies in the terrain: a large portion of the route follows paved or hard-packed riverside paths, and “flat” here also means—no variation in pace. Bring shoes with decent cushioning, not stiff hiking boots. Also plan your meals: There are long stretches between towns with no places to stop for a bite to eat, and in the polder villages, everything is often closed on Sundays. Thanks to the train connections in Diksmuide and Ypres, you can adjust your itinerary as you like.

1. Nieuwpoort-Bad → Diksmuide (23.8 km) — Starts at the Westerstaketsel, 500 meters out in the North Sea, then through the Ganzenpoot locks and along the banks of the IJzer through the polders; along the way, the St. James Chapel with its pilgrim statue. Virtually flat, with plenty of car-free waterfront paths and hardly any shade.
2. Diksmuide → Ypres (25.2 km) — the longest leg: with the IJzertoren and the Dodengang behind us, we continue through Boezinge and Steenstrate, past Essex Farm with John McCrae’s field hospital, then through the Vauban Gate into Ypres.
3. Ypres → Wervik (22.5 km) — out of the Ypres Salient toward the south, over the gentle slopes to the Leie River, through Komen/Comines, where Belgium and France are right next to each other, and along the river to Wervik.

The operator stages measure 23.9, 25.3, and 22.6 kilometers; the figures above are scaled to the total length of 71.5 km.

The knight who boarded the ship here bound for Compostela

This route has what most others lack: a pilgrim with a name, address, and date.Jan Taccoen, Lord of Zillebeke— the village is located immediately southeast of Ypres —, residing in Coming at the third stage, boarded the March 1512: from the port of Nieuwpoort to Compostela. His travel journal still exists as a French manuscript in Douai: “Che Livre de voyages appartien à messire Jehan de Zeilbeke, chevalier de Jheruzalem demorant à Comines.” The beginning, middle, and end of the Via Yprensis are all contained in this single biography—though one thing must be honestly noted: Taccoen traveled by ship from Nieuwpoort; he did not walk. Today’s route is the overland path to his port.

The stones and a bell attest to the fact that this land route is ancient. The St. James Chapel has stood between Nieuwpoort and Diksmuide since 1123–1138; its parish is documented in 1282/96 as"Saint Jackeme Capielle"appears; in Wervik, the Sint-Janshospitaal is documented as having taken in “poor pilgrims” beginning in 1250; in Ypres, the altar of St. James’s Church is attested as early as 1138, and the city was one of about forty Flemish and northern French cities with its own Brotherhood of St. James. When the iconoclasm of 1566 smashed the bell of St. James’s Chapel, it was recast in 1594—with the inscription“MY NAME IS JACOB 1594”: My name is Jakob. The mayor hid this very bell from the German artillery in 1914.

For then came the turning point that sets this path apart from all others: four years on the Western Front, the flooding of the Yser Plain by a lock keeper and a boatman in October 1914, the first gas attack at Steenstrate—and then the rebuilding of everything. The architect Jules Coomans Between 1909 and 1912, the St. James Church in Ypres was topped with its 75-meter spire; beginning in 1923, the same Coomans rebuilt the church from the rubble. The Lakenhalle was not completed until 1967, nearly fifty years after the armistice. And since July 2, 1928, volunteers from the Ypres Fire Department have been playing the Last Post at the Menenpoort every evening at eight o’clock—interrupted only by the occupation, and resumed on September 6, 1944, the day of liberation, while fighting was still raging nearby. The Via Yprensis, unveiled only in March 2023, is the latest chapter in this story of reconstruction: a pilgrimage route through a world that existed twice.

Highlights Along the Way

• Westerstaketsel, Nieuwpoort— The path begins half a kilometer out in the North Sea, where the pilgrims by ship came ashore.
• Ganzenpoot— the lock complex where, in late October 1914, a lock keeper and a boatman flooded the polders and halted the German offensive; by November 1, the water stretched for 15 kilometers.
• St. James Chapel— Chapel built between 1123 and 1138, referred to in documents as “Saint Jackeme Capielle”; destroyed by gunfire in 1914 and rebuilt between 1923 and 1925 using salvaged materials; the bell bears the inscription “IC HEETE JACOB 1594.”
• IJzertoren, Diksmuide— 84 meters tall, a museum spread over 22 floors, with the four-language slogan “Nooit meer oorlog” on the facade; the first tower, built in 1930, was demolished in 1946.
• Dodengang— the last remaining section of the Belgian front line, right on the Yser.
• Essex Farm near Boezinge— the concrete shelters at the parade ground where John McCrae wrote “In Flanders Fields” in early May 1915.
• St. James Church, Ypres— The altar has been documented since 1138; Jules Coomans added the 75-meter spire in 1909–1912 and rebuilt the church from the ruins beginning in 1923.
• Lakenhalle and In Flanders Fields Museum, Ypres— The building, which was constructed between 1230 and 1304, was reconstructed beginning in 1928 and was not completed until 1967.
• Menenpoort and the Last Post— Since July 2, 1928, the signal has sounded here every evening at 8:00 p.m.; only the crew interrupted it, and on September 6, 1944, it was sounded again.
• St. Medardus Church in Wervik— Destroyed in 1382 and immediately rebuilt; the tower was completed in 1433 and stands 86 meters tall: one of the largest churches in southern West Flanders, on the outskirts of the Roman town of Viroviacum.

How Pilgrims Find Their Way onto This Path

Most people simply head to the coast and start from scratch—literally, since Nieuwpoort-Bad is at sea level, and the starting point is actually out in the water. Historically, this was not a starting point but a point of arrival: English pilgrims crossed the Channel, disembarked at the Flemish ports, and walked south—it is precisely this arrival that the Westerstaketsel commemorates. There is no longer a ferry to Nieuwpoort; those coming from England arrive in Dunkirk, Calais, or Zeebrugge and continue on by train and coastal tram.

The second feed comes via the sister route: The Via Brugensis Runs from Sluis on the Dutch border through Bruges, Torhout, and Roeselare to Menen—and meets the Via Yprensis exactly where it ends, on the section of the Leie River between Wervik and Menen. Those walking the Via Brugensis who want to include the coast can add the Via Yprensis as a western loop; those starting in Nieuwpoort can switch routes in Wervik. Both routes are organized by the same sponsor, were jointly presented in Damme on March 7, 2023, and share guidebooks, trail markings, and a list of accommodations.

Continue the pilgrimage?

This trail doesn't end in Wervik; it continues: Along the Leie River between Wervik and Menen, the Via Brugensis, crosses the river and the border at Menen and leads via Lille (Rijsel) to Arras, reaching its endpoint after a total of 199 kilometers.

From Arras comes the highlight for which both routes were created in the first place: via Amiens and Chartres, you'll reach Épernon a variant of the Via Turonensis— and this way you avoid the long walk through Paris. It takes you via Tours, Poitiers, and Bordeaux to the Pyrenees, where in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port the Camino Francés begins. If you’d rather go to Vézelay instead, switch to the Via Scaldea in Menen or head through Reims from Arras. Depending on the route you choose, the distance from Wervik to Santiago is about 2,100 kilometers—your three days along the IJzer mark the beginning of that journey.

Preparation & Practical Information

The best time to visit is between April and October. Spring is especially beautiful along the IJzer because the polders are teeming with waterfowl; midsummer can be more exhausting on the sun-drenched dikes than the 111-meter elevation gain might suggest. Expect winds from the North Sea and rain in every season—this is West Flanders, not Galicia, but essentially the same kind of weather. Bring a truly waterproof jacket and shoes that can handle three days on asphalt.

One Pilgrim's Passport (Credencial)You’ll need this for getting stamps and later for the Compostela; the Vlaams Compostelagenootschap issues its own, and the German one works the same way. You can get stamps at the tourist offices in Nieuwpoort, Diksmuide, Ypres, and Wervik, as well as in churches and from your hosts. When it comes to lodging, you’ll need to adjust your thinking: There’s no hostel chain—the Genootschap maintains a continuously updated List of Accommodations with hotels, B&Bs, and private hosts who welcome pilgrims. Book in advance, especially in Ypres: The city is an international memorial destination, and everything is fully booked on weekends and around November 11. The easiest way to plan your stages and accommodations is directly in the Camino Ninja app. And plan your evening in Ypres so that you’re at the Menenpoort by 8 p.m.—the ceremony lasts just a few minutes and is the reason why many people undertake this journey in the first place.

What the journey will cost you

Belgium isn't a cheap destination, but a three-day stay is manageable: B&Bs or simple hotels cost 75 to 120 euros for a double room and 60 to 90 euros for a single room—at the higher end in Ypres, and lower in the polder villages. Private hosts from the Genootschap’s accommodation list often ask only for a voluntary contribution; this is hospitality, not a booking platform, so be sure to contact them in advance. Campgrounds along the Yser and on the coast cost 15 to 25 euros per person, with meals ranging from 25 to 40 euros per day (all figures as of September 2026).

Planning is affordable: The official guidebook “Via Brugensis – Via Yprensis” costs 15 euros (as of September 2026) and includes 37 topographic maps and three city maps; GPX tracks and a list of accommodations are available for free download. All in all, you can comfortably get by on 80 to 130 euros per day, and significantly less if you stay with private hosts. Museums are an added cost if you choose to visit them—the In Flanders Fields Museum and the Museum aan de IJzer are both worth a visit, and the Last Post is free.

Getting Here

To the start: Nieuwpoort doesn't have a train station, but it has one of the most convenient ways to get there in Belgium: by train to Ostend or From De Panne (IC trains from Brussels, Ghent, Bruges), then to the Kusttram, which runs along the entire Belgian coast for 67 kilometers and stops in Nieuwpoort-Bad—about 40 minutes from Ostend. If you're coming by car, park it in Nieuwpoort and take the train back at the end of the trip.

From the finish: Wervik has its own train station on the Kortrijk–Menen–Komen–Ypres–Poperinge line. After the last leg of the journey, you’ll be on a train in just a few minutes—back to Ypres or to Kortrijk, with an IC connection to Brussels, Ghent, and Lille. The nearest airport is Lille-Lesquin (about 30 km away), though Brussels and Ostend-Bruges are better connected.

• Train in Belgium: belgiantrain.be— Schedules and Tickets
• Kusttram and buses: delijn.be— De Lijn, Ostend Coastal Tram ↔ De Panne
• Getting there from Germany: bahn.de— About Brussels
• Ferries from England: to Dunkirk or Calais; there is no longer a direct ferry to Nieuwpoort