Located in the Nord department, in the Hauts-de-France region, the commune of Nieurlet is a rural village of nearly 900 inhabitants, approximately 5 kilometers north of Saint-Omer. Its territory covers approximately 10 km² and is part of the Hauts de Flandre Community of Communes. Formerly a hamlet of Lederzeele until 1928, Nieurlet today presents a peaceful character between marshes, meadows and Flemish bocage.
🌾 Nieurlet: history and origin of the name
The name Nieurlet comes from the Dutch Nieuwerleet, literally meaning “new ditch”. The place is mentioned as early as the 12th century, in charters linked to the Clairmarais Abbey, which acquired land in this area.
Nieurlet only became an independent commune in 1928, after having been attached to Lederzeele for a long time. The village was marked by the conflicts between Flanders and Artois during the Middle Ages, and particularly during the regional wars of the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries.
🗺️ Geographic location and environment
Nieurlet is ideally located in the Audomarois marsh, where the Flemish bocage meets the wetlands. The village is surrounded by meadows, ditches, and ancient water networks, including the canalized Aa, the Moerelak, and the Booneghem River.
The Booneghem Ponds site, classified as a National Nature Reserve, covers more than a hundred hectares. It presents a mosaic of environments (ponds, reed beds, grazed meadows and woods) and is home to a rich biodiversity: cormorants, herons, harriers and many rare plant species are regularly observed there.
🏛️ Heritage and monuments
The church of Nieurlet
The village has a parish church, representative of rural architecture. It is accompanied by a war memorial shared by Nieurlet and Lederzeele.
The ponds of Booneghem
This natural site is Nieurlet's main attraction. Designed for walking, the Booneghem circuit stretches for approximately 8,5 kilometers and crosses wetlands, canals, and meadows. It's a prime location for observing local flora and fauna.
🌿 Nature and walks
Nieurlet is an excellent starting point for exploring the Audomarois marshland on foot, by bike, or by boat. The well-marked Booneghem circuit is accessible to all. It offers a discovery route through marshy landscapes, with beautiful views of the waterways and reed beds.
Although the Nieurlet pier closed in 2023 (Le Brouckailler), departures by bacôve (traditional flat-bottomed boat) are still possible nearby, notably from our pier in St Omer, on the Clairmarais road. This allows you to extend the experience by directly immersing yourself in the river world of the marsh.
🔭 Recommended experiences and visits
Explore the Booneghem circuit and its humid landscapes.
Observe water birds and wild orchids in the nature reserve.
Visit the village church.
Explore the marsh canals on foot or by bike, or by boat from nearby villages.
Combine this visit with a visit to the Grange Nature or the Boat Makers' Workshop to better understand local traditions related to water.
ℹ️ Practical information
Access Nieurlet is located about 5 kilometers from Saint-Omer. It can be reached by car, bicycle, or hiking trails.
Hiking : Several 2 to 3 hour circuits are accessible for all levels.
⛪ The discreet charm of Nieurlet
Nieurlet seduces with its simplicity, its protected natural environment, and its tranquil rural atmosphere. The village offers an authentic experience: that of a preserved place where nature and history coexist in all sobriety.
For visitors seeking peace and quiet, open landscapes and natural discoveries, Nieurlet is a discreet but enriching stopover in the heart of the Audomarois marsh.
To go deeper:
- Nieurlet on Wikipedia
- Hauts de Flandre Tourist Office
All the answers to your questions about the village of Nieurlet
The name Nieurlet, derived from the Flemish "Nieuwerleet" meaning "new ditch" or "canal", bears witness to its ancient origins and the importance of water in the structuring of the territory. The place called Niewerlede appears in the archives as early as 1127, thus marking the beginning of a rich history, closely linked to Flemish culture and the Audomarois marsh.
As early as 1149, Arnould IV of Ardres and his wife Adeline granted the abbey of Clairmarais the tithe of the lands dependent on their farm of Nieuwerlede, acquired from Elbodon of Nothoth. This gesture, which illustrates the close links between the local nobility and religious institutions, helped to establish the influence of this territory in the region.
In the 1551th century, Nieurlet found itself at the heart of political and military rivalries. In 1557, Claude d'Hallwin, Lord of Bambecque and Lord of Nieurlet, assumed the role of "Captain of the City of Dunkirk" in the service of Spain, then the powerful holder of the region. He lived in a castle in West-Cappel and was forced to return to his post when, in XNUMX, France seized Calais, until then under English domination, and an epidemic of plague, imported by a Spanish fleet, raged in Dunkirk.
The 1910th century marked an important stage in the identity of Nieurlet. Around 4, a railway line linking Herzeele to Saint-Momelin passed through the village, thus promoting its dynamism. Established as an independent commune on March 1928, XNUMX, Nieurlet, previously a hamlet of the commune of Lederzeele, became one of the youngest communes in France.
Today, located in the Flemish sector of the Audomarois marsh, Nieurlet is distinguished by its Booneghem ponds, recently classified and integrated into the Regional Natural Park of the Caps and Marais d'Opale. The village is also renowned for its marsh, the last marsh still cultivated in France, symbolizing the unique alliance between natural heritage and local history.
The built heritage and historical monuments of Nieurlet include:
The Church of the Immaculate Conception : built in 1885, it replaced an old 8th century church. It has Comtoise bells cast on August 1893, XNUMX by P. Drouot in Douai.
The war memorial : located in the commune, it commemorates the victims of wars.
The remains of the old tile factory : these remains bear witness to the past industrial activity of the commune, linked to the clayey nature of its subsoil.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception in Nieurlet, open for worship since 1885, replaced a XNUMXth century church, which was destroyed due to its dilapidated state.
The current church building was built on fairly unstable ground, which has led to several challenges to its stability over time. The church, although relatively recent, is distinguished by its two bells, cast by P. Drouot on 8 August 1893. The first bell, named "Gabrielle-Marie", measures approximately 90 cm in diameter and rings in A, while the second bell, smaller (55 cm), rings in F. These bells mark the emblematic sound aspect of the village, while the church remains a central place for the local community.
In Nieurlet itself, a restaurant allows you to enjoy local specialties:
- The Booneghem Inn: located at 114 Route de Booneghem, 59143 Nieurlet. Telephone: +33 3 21 88 28 50. This estaminet offers traditional French cuisine. Reservations are recommended
Other options are possible nearby in the Audomarois marsh and the Clairmarais marsh:
- Restaurant Estaminet La Baguernette by ISNOR (nearby, in Clairmarais) – Address: 3 Rue du Marais, 62500 Clairmarais – Telephone: +33 3 21 39 33 92. This restaurant offers French and regional cuisine.
- The Boat Builders and their waterside tavern “Les Piquinettes”. Located on the Clairmarais road in Saint-Omer. Outdoor but covered tavern. Specialties: chicken with maroilles cheese and fries, carbonnade, potje, market garden salads – 43 route de Clairmarais 62500 Saint-Omer – 06.08.09.94.88.
Here are some ideas for walks and hikes in Nieurlet and its surroundings:
- Booneghem Circuit – Distance: 8,6 km to 9,6 km – Duration: Approximately 2h30 to 3h. Starting point: Nieurlet Church. This walk has the particularity of passing through the Romelaere marsh, the Booneghem wetlands and the market garden fields. A stop at the “nature barn” in Clairmarais is recommended
- National Nature Reserve of the Romelaëre ponds : Former peat extraction site, offering a landscape of ponds and rivers. 2,5 km of developed paths are planned for walking and observing wildlife.
- Clairmarais Forest: Possibility of hiking in the forest
To visit the Nieurlet marsh, you have several options:
Boat trips
The Nieurlet pier, the Brouckailler, closed its doors in 2023.
Near Nieurlet, you have two options for visiting the marsh by bacôve or renting a boat:
- O'Marais by Isnor: located in Clairmarais
- The Boat Builders – Little extra: discovery of the last shipyard in the area offered with the guided tour in bacôve.
Hiking
- Booneghem Circuit : An 8,6 km hike (about 3 hours) starting from the church of Nieurlet. This family circuit allows you to discover the fauna, flora and market gardening production of the marsh.
- National Nature Reserve of the Romelaëre ponds : A former peat extraction site offering a landscape of ponds and rivers.
