The NieuwpoortâÂÂDunkirk Canal (Dutch Kanaal NieuwpoortâÂÂDuinkerke, French Canal NieuportâÂÂDunkerque) is a canal which links the Belgian coastal town of Nieuwpoort with the French port Dunkirk. The NieuwpoortâÂÂDunkirk Canal forms an extension of the , and runs for pretty much parallel to the coast line, within two to four kilometers from the sea.
The canal starts at the so-called Ganzepoot lock complex at the mouth of the Yser in Nieuwpoort, where it connects the Yser, the North Sea and the PlassendaleâÂÂNieuwpoort Canal. The canal first circles around the old city center and then turns eastward, past the village of Wulpen in the municipality of Koksijde. Then the canal turns inland towards the city of Veurne, where it connects with the Canal. The canal goes around Veurne, and then bends back towards the shoreline by Adinkerke. After almost in Belgium, the canal continues into France, passing the communes of Bray-Dunes and Zuydcoote. In Dunkirk it connects again to the North Sea where the NieuwpoortâÂÂDunkirk Canal finally ends in linkups with the Bourbourg and Bergues canals.
The PlassendaleâÂÂNieuwpoortâÂÂVeurneâÂÂDunkirk Canal was built around 1630; it connects with other canals built in that period, the (1613), and (1618).
The Canal de Furnes is the French name for the portion of the NieuwpoortâÂÂDunkirk Canal running in France, from Dunkirk to the Belgian border town of Veurne (Fr. Furnes). The Belgian border is at PK13.