Plassendale-Nieuwpoort Canal is a small canal in West Flanders province, Flanders, Belgium, covering 44 hectares (110 acres (44 ha)) of water. The water holds Bream, Roach, Carp, Pike, Perch — carp fishing is the primary draw for visiting UK anglers.
For carp anglers, night fishing at Plassendale-Nieuwpoort Canal is authorised: Night fishing permitted with groot visverlof. Coastal canal in West Flanders near Nieuwpoort. Part of INBO survey.. Regarding boats: Boats permitted on navigable waterways. Float tubes allowed. Stay clear of commercial navigation..
Plassendale-Nieuwpoort Canal is 48 miles from Calais — closer than many French venues and easily reached via the Channel Tunnel.
Night fishing is permitted at Plassendale-Nieuwpoort Canal. Night fishing permitted with groot visverlof. Coastal canal in West Flanders near Nieuwpoort. Part of INBO survey.
Boats: Boats are permitted at Plassendale-Nieuwpoort Canal. Boats permitted on navigable waterways. Float tubes allowed. Stay clear of commercial navigation.
Permits required: Vlaams visverlof (groot visverlof, ~€14.50/year from Natuur en Bos) required for all Flemish public waterways. Buy online at natuurenbos.vlaanderen.be or at the post office. Valid 1 Jan–31 Dec. Klein visverlof (~€6/year) for daytime only, 1 rod, no lures. Some waters require additional local fishing club membership card.
Fishing in Flanders requires a VISpas (Flemish fishing permit, groot visverlof), available from Sportvisserij Vlaanderen. Night fishing permissions are built into site-specific rules — no separate night permit is required in Flanders.
Local authority: Agentschap Natuur en Bos (ANB) · www.visverlof.be
Plassendale-Nieuwpoort Canal holds bream, roach, carp, pike, perch. Carp fishing is the primary draw for visiting UK anglers.
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All year for most species on public waterways. Ecologically valuable waters: NO fishing 16 April–31 May (spawning). From 1 March–15 April in ecologically valuable waters: no bait fish or lures >2cm. Pike: closed 1 March–last Saturday April. Zander/Perch: closed 1 April–last Saturday April. Mandatory no-kill: Eel/Paling (full ban — immediate release). Waterlopen Zwalm and IJse: full mandatory no-kill all year, no bait fish.
Fishing in Flanders requires a VISpas (groot visverlof, ~€14.50/year) from Sportvisserij Vlaanderen. Buy online at sportvisserijvlaanderen.be before leaving the UK — no separate night permit is needed in Flanders as night fishing permissions are built into site-specific rules. Always carry your licence while fishing.
Plassendale-Nieuwpoort Canal is 48 miles from Calais — within 90 minutes of the Channel Tunnel, ideal for a short break. Always verify current rules on the individual venue page before your session.
West Flanders is home to a number of public fishing venues accessible with a valid Belgian fishing permit. Use PiscaMaps to find all venues in West Flanders and across Flanders.