Yser
Encyclopedia
The Yser is a river
that finds its origin in the north of France
, enters Belgium
and flows into the North Sea
at the town of Nieuwpoort
.
, in the Nord département of northern France
. It then flows though Bollezeele
, Esquelbecq
, Bambecque
and approximately 30 of its 78 kilometers run through France before it crosses the border at Houtkerque
.
, and out into the North Sea
in Nieuwpoort
. During the Battle of the Yser
in the First World War the river was deliberately flooded from Nieuwpoort up to Diksmuide in order to provide an obstacle to the advancing German Army and to keep Belgium safe from any harm.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
that finds its origin in the north of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, enters Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and flows into the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
at the town of Nieuwpoort
Nieuwpoort, Belgium
Nieuwpoort is a municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Nieuwpoort proper and the towns of Ramskapelle and Sint-Joris. On January 1, 2008 Nieuwpoort had a total population of 11,062....
.
In France
The source of the Yser is in BuysscheureBuysscheure
-References:*...
, in the Nord département of northern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It then flows though Bollezeele
Bollezeele
Bollezeele is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It is south of Dunkirk and also west of the Belgian border. The river Yser runs through Bollezeele.-Heraldry:-References:*...
, Esquelbecq
Esquelbecq
- History :In 1436, Wautier de Ghistelles was seigneur d'Ekelsbeke et de Ledringhem and governor of La Madeleine hospital in Bierne.- References :*...
, Bambecque
Bambecque
Bambecque is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.-Heraldry:-References:*...
and approximately 30 of its 78 kilometers run through France before it crosses the border at Houtkerque
Houtkerque
Houtkerque is a communes in the Nord department in northern France. It is located near the Belgian border, north of Steenvoorde, on the Steenvoorde/Hondschoote road. The Yser River crosses the border at Houtkerque....
.
In Belgium
In Belgium the Yser flows through DiksmuideDiksmuide
Diksmuide is a Belgian city and municipality in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Diksmuide proper and the former communes of Beerst, Esen, Kaaskerke, Keiem, Lampernisse, Leke, Nieuwkapelle, Oostkerke, Oudekapelle, Pervijze, Sint-Jacobs-Kapelle,...
, and out into the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
in Nieuwpoort
Nieuwpoort, Belgium
Nieuwpoort is a municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Nieuwpoort proper and the towns of Ramskapelle and Sint-Joris. On January 1, 2008 Nieuwpoort had a total population of 11,062....
. During the Battle of the Yser
Battle of the Yser
The Battle of the Yser secured part of the coastline of Belgium for the allies in the "Race to the Sea" after the first three months of World War I.-Strategic Context:As part of the execution of the Schlieffen Plan, Belgium had been invaded by Germany...
in the First World War the river was deliberately flooded from Nieuwpoort up to Diksmuide in order to provide an obstacle to the advancing German Army and to keep Belgium safe from any harm.
