The Kursaal, an isolated building standing in front of the village, was turned into a blockhouse, facing seawards; same includes two superimposed observation-posts, a signalling post, and machine-gun shelters. _Continue along the dike_, noticing the observation-posts, machine-gun and small calibre artillery emplacements, _as far as the ="Aachen" Battery= on the right_. This is the first of the formidable coast-defence batteries organised by the Germans. The itinerary takes the tourist to most of these batteries, all of which were fitted with heavy guns. They were served by standard or narrow-gauge tracks, some having as many as three tracks of different gauges. At the time of the Armistice the Germans blew up a large number of the shelters, before leaving, and destroyed most of the guns which they had been unable to evacuate. They also removed all apparatus from the observation and telemetric posts. [Illustration: +Blockhouse of the Aachen Battery+ _(north-east of Middelkerke-Bains.)_] An enormous blockhouse, situated on the left of the "+Aachen+" +Battery+, contained an observation-post and the post-of-commandment of the officer in charge of the firing. Near by, are the four 6in. armour-protected guns on concrete platforms, with concrete personnel and ammunition shelters on either side. In front of the battery, near the beach, were anti-aircraft machine-gun posts. [Illustration: +General View of the Aachen Battery+ _(north-east of Middelkerke-Bains.)_] The "Aachen" Battery was connected by infantry defence-works to the next or ="Antwerpen" Battery=, situated on top of the dune. The latter comprised four 4in. guns in armoured turrets, with sand-covered concrete shelters behind. In front, on the dike, are machine-gun emplacements. The _="Beseler" Battery=, next reached_, comprises four 6in. guns on concrete platforms, with circular armour-plate protection. On each side two elevated emplacements served as telemetric and observation-posts. _Further on is_ a large infantry entrenchment, with a shelter on the dike for the searchlight, and an emplacement on either side for machine-guns or small calibre artillery. [Illustration: +One of the Beseler Battery's guns.+] [Illustration: +One of the Cecilia Battery's guns.+] [Illustration: +The Cecilia Battery+, _photographed from an aeroplane at 13,000 feet, in July, 1916_. ☙ ☙ ☙] _Next comes_ the ="Cecilia" Battery=, similar to the "Beseler" Battery, except that the guns are longer, and the armour-plate protection rectangular. _Having passed_ a series of observation-posts, including that of the ="Tirpitz" Battery=, with its telemetric installation and machine-gun shelters, _the tourist enters =Mariakerke-Bains= (6 kms.)_, a small seaside resort in the suburbs of Ostend. _Follow the tram-lines along Avenue Léopold, separated from the dike by a row of houses, to =Ostend= (2½ kms.) coming out opposite the entrance to_ the old +Wellington Fort+.