Top 10 Things to do Good for Big Groups in Belgian Westhoek, Flanders

June 21, 2021 Oliva Fomby

Discover the best top things to do in Belgian Westhoek, Belgium including Tyne Cot Cemetery, Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, Last Post ceremony, Menin Gate Memorial, MuseOs, Ypres Cloth Hall, In Flanders Fields Museum, The Abbey of Saint Sixtus of Westvleteren, Hooge Crater Museum, Abdijmuseum Ten Duinen.
Restaurants in Belgian Westhoek

1. Tyne Cot Cemetery

Tynecotstraat, Zonnebeke 8980 Belgium http://www.cwgc.org/find/find-cemeteries-and-memorials/53300/tyne-cot-cemetery
Excellent
85%
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5.0 based on 1,440 reviews

Tyne Cot Cemetery

It is now the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world in terms of burials. At the suggestion of King George V, who visited the cemetery in 1922, the Cross of Sacrifice was placed on the original large pill-box. There are three other pill-boxes in the cemetery. There are now 11,956 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in Tyne Cot Cemetery. 8,369 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to more than 80 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials commemorate 20 casualties whose graves were destroyed by shell fire. There are 4 German burials, 3 being unidentified. The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker. The TYNE COT MEMORIAL forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery and commemorates nearly 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom and New Zealand who died in the Ypres Salient after 16 August 1917 and whose graves are not known. The memorial stands close to the farthest point in Belgium reached by Commonwealth forces in the First World War until the final advance to victory. The memorial was designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by F V Blundstone.

Reviewed By M2453SKianb - Tervuren, Belgium

Extremely moving experience. Very sobering thoughts about the millions who lost their lives in the trench warfare of World War 1. Tyne Cot cemetery should definitely be on everyone’s bucket list.

2. Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917

Ieperstraat 5, Zonnebeke 8980 Belgium +32 51 77 04 41 [email protected] http://www.passchendaele.be/
Excellent
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5.0 based on 996 reviews

Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917

The Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 presents the historic story of the First World War in a poignant and vivid way, with a particular emphasis on the Battle of Passchendaele. This battle in 1917 is known as one of the most horrific battles from the First World War, with more than half-a-million casualties for a territorial gain of merely eight kilometres. ‘Passchendaele’ not only became a concept in the history of the First World War, it also became a symbol of the great futility of the violence of war in all its horror. The Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 combines the interactive design of a modern museum with the exceptional aspect of experiencing the Dugouts & Trenches. Last admission at 16:30.

Reviewed By earlro - London, United Kingdom

Amazingly well presented experience including realistic reconstructions of deep underground bunkers and then both British and German trenches outside. A must and very good value.

3. Last Post ceremony

Menin Gate, Ieper (Ypres) Belgium http://www.lastpost.be/
Excellent
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5.0 based on 2,613 reviews

Last Post ceremony

Reviewed By IainS768 - Bethesda, United Kingdom

Everything that has been written about this Ceremony is true,if you can possibly make the journey to Ieper then you must experience this very moving tribute carried out at 8.00pm every night. I had the honour of laying a Wreath recently and this experience ranks as one of the most emotional moments in my life and one that I was honoured to have taken part in. We owe a debt of gratitude to the thousands of people who gave their life’s so willingly in the name of freedom.

4. Menin Gate Memorial

Menenstraat Poort gebouw, Ieper (Ypres) 8900 Belgium +32 57 23 92 20 http://www.lastpost.be/en/home
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5.0 based on 4,861 reviews

Menin Gate Memorial

Ypres (now Ieper) is a town in the Province of West Flanders. The Memorial is situated at the eastern side of the town on the road to Menin (Menen) and Courtrai (Kortrijk). The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927. Each night at 8 pm the traffic is stopped at the Menin Gate while members of the local Fire Brigade sound the Last Post in the roadway under the Memorial's arches.

Reviewed By naggedman - Newbury, United Kingdom

Anyone can apply to lay a wreath at one of the 8pm ceremonies that have run every night for 90 years at this extraordinary memorial, thanks to the dedication of the Town's volunteers, including the buglers who play Last Post and a version of Reveille. On this evening there were children and youths from about ten schools, alongside the Royal Artillery Association standard bearer, here to present the standard to the Town in recognition of its extraordinary efforts to remember the fallen. Arrive early if you want a close to the arch front row position.

5. MuseOs

Veurnestraat 2 Koksijde dorp, Koksijde 8670 Belgium +32 58 51 19 39 [email protected] http://www.museos.be
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5.0 based on 21 reviews

MuseOs

Kindvriendelijk natuurhistorisch museum gespecialiseerd in schedels, skeletten en fossielen van gewervelde dieren uit heel de wereld. Interactieve zoek- en doe-opdrachtjes voor jong en oud. Gratis koffie. Persoonlijke ontvangst door de stichters Luc en Leentje. Openingstijden: in schoolvakanties zo-ma-woe-do van 10h00 tot 17h00 doorlopend. Alle andere dagen van het jaar op afspraak.

6. Ypres Cloth Hall

Grote Markt 34, Ieper (Ypres) 8900 Belgium +32 57 23 92 20 [email protected] http://www.toerisme-ieper.be/item.php?itemno=485_465_142_145_225_149&lang=NL
Excellent
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5.0 based on 39 reviews

Ypres Cloth Hall

Reviewed By TeamWard - Nottingham, United Kingdom

The Cloth hall takes over the centre of Ypres and its magnificent, the architecture is superb, so much detail, the museum inside and the belfry are both worth visiting, take a few minutes to observe the outside.

7. In Flanders Fields Museum

Grote Markt 34, Ieper (Ypres) 8900 Belgium +32 57 23 92 20 [email protected] http://www.inflandersfields.be/
Excellent
66%
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4.5 based on 3,564 reviews

In Flanders Fields Museum

The Ypres region was the backdrop to on of the bloodiest battles in history, 100 years ago. Now the last witness have died too, the In Flanders Fields Museum is more than ever the gateway to the First World War in Flanders. The In Flanders Fields Museum confronts the visitor with the consequences of the Great War. Old and young are faced with life and death in the Ypres front region. The exhibition with touching video projects, unique sound fragments and the most up-to-date multimedia applications immerse you in the life at the front. each visitor also receives a poppy bracelet that enables him/her to discover four personal stories of 'Joe Public' in the Great War. By logging in you can meet your peers in the war, a century ago.

Reviewed By GemsNI - Armagh, United Kingdom

The In Flanders Fields Museum is housed in a beautiful historic building in the centre of the main square. Ypres was the site of one of the bloodiest battles in First World War in Flanders and the exhibitions show how the battle progressed, how the soldiers survived in the trenches and the senselessness of death in battle. The In Flanders Fields Museum gives the visitor a Poppy bracelet to wear which allows you to interact with the exhibits and read more information - this allows you to immerse yourself in the exhibits and makes the experience more 'personal'. The living history videos with first hand accounts were excellent. I cried several times throughout the museum as it was so personal/real. A Must see museum- the more you immerse yourself into the exhibits, the more emotional it becomes.

8. The Abbey of Saint Sixtus of Westvleteren

Westvleteren, Vleteren Belgium +32 57 40 03 77 [email protected] http://www.sintsixtus.be
Excellent
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4.5 based on 209 reviews

The Abbey of Saint Sixtus of Westvleteren

Reviewed By FyFazan - Oslo, Norway

You are not allowed entrance into the area without setting up an appointment first. Anyway, defintely worth to visit the place that makes "the best beer in the world", and enjoy the Westvleteren beers at the nearby restaurant "In de Vrede". A must visit when in Belgium.

9. Hooge Crater Museum

Meenseweg 467, Ieper (Ypres) 8902 Belgium +32 57 46 84 46 [email protected] http://www.hoogecrater.com
Excellent
60%
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4.5 based on 742 reviews

Hooge Crater Museum

Full scale reconstructions of war scenes, an extended collection of weapons, war equipment and photos make this museum to a true must-see!The chapel, in which the museum is located, dates back from the early twenties. This chapel was built directly across the Hooge Crater cemetery in memory of the many fallen soldiers on the battle fields of ‘Hooge’ over a period of 4 years. Rare military clothing of the troops, that where fighting in the ‘Ypres Salient’ (Ieperboog) are exposed in glass displays. Also you can see some full scale scenes of the Great War battle fields, very authentically reproduced. The theme of the scenes is very divers: German bunkers, British trenches and full scale horses with cavalry troops on their backs.

Reviewed By TopTraveller18 - Four Marks, United Kingdom

Hooge Crater Museum is an interesting and informative museum, which really helped me understand some of the features of the warfare in World War One. There were many visual elements to the museum, with plenty of artefacts and objects that helped explain the key features of the warfare. The museum was a lovely tribute to those who had died and served in the war. There is a café and also a small gift shop, where, amongst other things, bullets found in nearby battlefields can be bought for a very reasonable price. The museum is well kept and a must - go if you are in the area.

10. Abdijmuseum Ten Duinen

Koninklijke Prinslaan 8, Koksijde 8670 Belgium +32 58 53 39 50 http://www.tenduinen.be/tenduinen.html
Excellent
43%
Good
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Satisfactory
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4.5 based on 98 reviews

Abdijmuseum Ten Duinen

Reviewed By Hendrik3078 - Leuven, Belgium

In the visitor site you see information about the history of this important abbey in the middle ages, his impact and decline. The live in an abbey, ... also artefacts found in the ruins, a huge Lego model of the abbey, ... Afterwards you can visit the ruins and get an impression of the size of this abbey.

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