_Lunch at +Nieuport+._]
_Leave =Dunkirk= by Rue de Paris, continued by Rue des 4-Ecluses, cross
the Canal de la Cunette (see lower half of itinerary, p. 27, and text,
p. 32), and take the Furnes road (D. 15) which follows the right bank
of the Dunkirk-Furnes Canal._
_At =Rosendael= (2½ kms. on the other side of the canal) stood_ the
Civilian Hospital of Dunkirk, which was shelled several times during
the war.
_On the left, 3 kms. further on, is =Dunes Fort=._
[Illustration: +Hospital at Rosendael bombed by a German aeroplane.+
_The baby in the medallion had one of its hands cut off by a
splinter._]
[Illustration: +Sanatorium at Zuydcoote.+ _(Cliché LL.)_]
_At the first cross-roads (9 kms. from Dunkirk), the tourist may take
the left-hand road to +Zuydcoote+, to see the great +Sanatorium for
children+, on the coast, founded by M. Van Covenberghe._ Converted into
a military hospital, it rendered invaluable service during the War
_(photo above)_.
_To visit, go through =Zuydcoote=, turn to the left, beyond the
level-crossing, then to the right 200 yards further on._
[Illustration]
_Return to D. 15, and follow same on the left. At the first cross-roads
(2 kms.) take G. C. 4 on the right to +Hondschoote+ (12 kms.)_
_Pass through +Ghyvelde+, then at +Les Moeres+ turn to the right, and
on leaving, to the left._
_Beyond the level-crossing, =Hondschoote= is reached. Take Rue de la
Prévôlé on the left, which leads to the Grand' Place._
Hondschoote is a small town of ancient origin, whose population has
greatly decreased since the 16th century. It was there that, on
September 8, 1793 the French, under Houchard, defeated and drove back
the English who were besieging Dunkirk _(engraving below)_.
_On the right of the Square (photos, p. 35) is_ the 17th century
Renaissance Hôtel-de-Ville, _while in the centre stands_ the early 16th
century church, in which are a fine pulpit and organ loft (1755). _Near
by is_ a monument (Darcq) commemorating the victory of 1793.
[Illustration: +The Victory at Hondschoote. (21 Fructidor, Year 1.)+]
[Illustration: +Hondschoote.+
+Hondschoote Church.+
_In front:_ +9in. Mortars+.
_In the medallion:_ +The Pulpit.+]
[Illustration: +Hondschoote. The Hôtel-de-Ville.+]
_Return to D. 15 and follow same to the right; cross the railway
(l.c.); 2 kms. further on is the French Custom-House. The Belgian
Custom-House is 3 kms. further on, near +Adinkerque+._
[Illustration]
_Cross the canal and enter =Adinkerke=._
_Take the street on the left which skirts the churchyard._ Behind
the church is a large Franco-Belgian cemetery, containing the grave
of the Belgian poet Verhaeren. After the Armistice, his remains were
transferred to his native town.
[Illustration: +Verhaeren's Tomb at Adinkerke (1918).+]
_Keep straight on along the La Panne road; 600 yards beyond the
Dunkirk-Furnes railway, a small foot-path on the right leads to_ a
military cemetery. _=La Panne= is next reached (3 kms.)_. This small
seaside resort was one of the least modern places on the coast. _Follow
Avenue de la Mer as far as the dike, to the left of which are_ three
villas which were occupied during the war by King Albert and his staff.
[Illustration: +Reception of President Poincaré by King Albert at the
Royal Villa, La Panne, January 22, 1917.+]
[Illustration: +Villa of the French Mission at La Panne+ _(October
1916.)_]
_Return along Avenue de la Mer to the first street on the left, in
which is_ the Hôpital de l'Océan. _0 km. 800 further on, on the left,
take the street which runs alongside the local railway. At the first
fork, take the left-hand road to =Coxyde= (5 kms. from La Panne.)_ Wire
entanglements and shelters in the Dunes may be seen all along the road.
There is a military cemetery on the left, _O km. 500 before reaching
Coxyde_.
+Coxyde+, like most of the towns on the coast, is divided into the town
proper, situated behind the Dunes, and the Baths on the coast.
_Turn to the left on entering the village._ The road crosses the Dunes,
which are highest at Hoogen-Blekker (105 feet). Vestiges of trenches,
wire entanglements, shelters and gun emplacements are to be seen on
every hand.
_In the Dunes, on the right, is_ an emplacement for naval guns _(Photo
opposite)_. Between this position and the sea is the camp known as that
of Adjutant Lefèvre _(Photo below)_.
_The tourist may go as far as =Coxyde-Bains= (2 kms.) Return to and
cross through Coxyde, keeping straight on to =Furnes= (3½ kms.)_
☙ ☙ ☙
[Illustration: +Concrete Gun Shelter+,
_100 yards east of Coxyde-Bains_.]
[Illustration: +The Camp of Adjutant Lefèvre at Coxyde-Bains.+]
[Illustration:
Hôtel-de-Ville, Palais-de-Justice, Belfry, Church of St-Walburge.
+The Grand'Place, Furnes.+]