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IN
FLANDERS
FIELDS
World War I Locations
location flanders
Film Commission
World War I (1914-1918)
FOTO Menenpoort – Ieper IFF Boek pg 162
Flanders notoriously played a key role during one of the largest wars in history, World
War I (1914-1918). Starting from 2014, the outbreak of the Great War will be elaborately commemorated, both during memorials as well as through a wide variety of
audiovisual productions. Not only the Westhoek (with cities like Ypres, Diksmuide and Passendale) suffered
from the atrocities and destruction of the War. Main Flemish cities such as Antwerp
and Leuven weren’t safeguard against it either. The coastal cities of Bruges and
Ostend, on the other hand, played an important role in the naval warfare of the conflict, more precisely for their strategic position and for their part in the development
of German U-boats.
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This publication provides a concise overview of Flanders’ remaining World War I locations. One by one, they remain silent witnesses of four years that changed the course
of history. In partnership with the academic research team of In Flanders Fields, Location
Flanders will take care of all your WWI-related shooting requests.
Caterpillar Crater (mine crater) – Zillebeke
Menin Gate – Ypres
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BUNKERS & TRENCHES
The First Battle of Ypres in October-November 1914, marked the end of mobile actions
and the beginning of trench warfare. Ypres became the centre of the Ypres Salient, an
arc of defensive lines running from the Boezinge village in the north to Ploegsteert in
the south.
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Trench of Death - Diksmuide
Bayernwald – Wijtschate
Although none of the original constructions of the trenches have been preserved,
several battlefield sites show reconstructed versions on the original trench location.
The Bayernwald trenches near Kemmel; the Dodengang (Trench of Death) near Diksmuide and the educational Yorkshire Trench & Dug-out Site in the northern part of the
Salient are good examples of reconstructed trenches.
In the early days of the war, bunkers and shelters were constructed out of all sorts
of materials found in the immediate surroundings of the battlefield. These temporary
hide-outs were soon replaced by more solid constructions. As of 1915, iron and concrete became standard materials for German bunkers in order to resist the ever intensifying shootings and bombings. Several of these bunkers can still be visited today.
Well preserved examples are the German Commando Post in Zandvoorde which consists of multiple rooms, the four British Hide-outs at the Lettenberg near Kemmel
and the Kanaaldijk Site, where Canadian doctor John McCrae wrote the world famous
poem ‘In Flanders Fields’.
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German Commando Post – Zandvoorde
Atlantikwall – Ostend
Some of these bunkers have been re-used during the Second World War, for instance
as part of the German Atlantikwall aimed at protecting the Continental coasts against
an allied invasion.
MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE
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British Hide-outs – Lettenberg (Kemmel)
Fortress of Merksem – Antwerp
Although the Great War in Flanders predominantly took place in the dreadful trenches
of the Westhoek, other parts of Flanders suffered from the hostilities too.
Following the invasion of Belgium on 4 August 1914, the German army intended to
sweep over Belgium in order to quickly attack France but encountered unexpected
resistance from the small Belgian army. After the fall of Brussels, the Belgian troops
withdrew into a network of 19th Century fortresses encircling the city of Antwerp,
also known as Brialmont’s belt. Between the fortresses of Kapellen and Brasschaat,
the army used a military railway to supply the troops with food and ammunition.
Today, some of these fortresses surrounding Antwerp, such as the Fortress of Merksem
and Fortress n° 8 in Hoboken, remain fairly intact.
Kanaaldijk Site – Ypers
Other existing military infrastructure, such as the Leopoldskazerne (Leopold Military
Station) in Ghent (renamed ‘Kaserne Kaiser Wilhelm’ during the occupation) was also
incorporated by the German military forces.
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Leopold Military Station – Ghent
Harbour – Zeebrugge
The coastal cities of Ostend and Zeebrugge came into German hands as early as October 1914. Its harbours were used by the German submarine U-boats. The impressive
18th Century pentagonal fortress Fort Napoleon in Ostend was armed with heavy guns
to protect the coastline. The German artillery used the fortress as an assembly room.
The Ostend Military Hospital too, built in 1917, was handed over to the German forces.
It maintained its function as a hospital until the building was partly destroyed in a
bomb attack in 1918. Today, the Military Hospital and its surroundings are the object
of a new housing project, in which the original architecture of the hospital is being
preserved.
Fortress n° 8 (Hoboken) – Antwerp
In Poperinge, an execution pole in the courtyard of the town’s city hall, reminds us of
the hundreds of allied deserters who were executed in front of firing squads. Many of
these so-called deserters probably suffered from shell shock, a mental disorder first
believed to be caused by the never ending bombings. The convicts spent their last
night in the Death Cell before being shot at dawn the next day.
In Bruges, the Cloth Hall near the Market Square, served as a German prisoner’s camp
and kitchen.
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Fort Napoleon – Ostend
Death Cell – Poperinge
Military Hospital – Ostend
RESIDENCES
Many cities in Flanders did not have a military infrastructure, but its city halls and even
private villas were transformed into military headquarters or assembly rooms.
The gothic City Hall of Leuven and the Liberty of Bruges became military headquarters
during the German offensive in Flanders in the early days of the war. In Leuven, the
City Hall was one of the few grand architectural buildings that was not destroyed by the
fire set by the German army on 25 August 1914 and which damaged more than 1,000
buildings in the city centre, including the famous university library.
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Liberty of Bruges – Bruges
Cloth Hall and Belfry – Bruges
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Palace at the Meir – Antwerp
When Brussels fell into the hands of the German army in August 1914, King Albert I
of Belgium and the Belgian army retreated to Antwerp. During the decisive weeks
before the capture of the city, the king resided in his Palace at the Meir.
The surrender of Antwerp to the German army was signed on 9 October 1914 in a villa
known as Villa Rest and Be Thankful.
City Hall – Leuven
From Antwerp, the King retreated to Veurne where he resided in its City Hall from
October 1914 till January 1915. This building also served as temporary headquarters
of the Belgian army during the Battle of the Yser in October 1914. Here, the allied
troops discussed the famous flood of the land east of the Yser river. By opening the
sluice gates in Nieuwpoort (the current Ganzenpoot), deliberately allowing sea water
to flood this reclaimed, low-lying area of Flanders, the German army was prevented to
advance towards the Channel ports of Dunkirk and Calais.
Today, during a wet winter, the Yser river can still flood its surrounding lowlands. This
is a natural phenomenon.
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Albert I Monument – Nieuwpoort
Ganzenpoot – Nieuwpoort
City Hall – Veurne
Although a large part of Flanders was occupied by the German imperial army, the war
didn’t affect every city or village.
MONUMENTS, MEMORIALS
& CEMETERIES
Poperinge, a small village surrounded by hop fields a few kilometres behind the frontlines of the Ypres Salient. Here, British soldiers could relax. The Talbot House and
Concert Hall became a famous soldiers’ house of the British Army where all soldiers
were welcome. The original interior has been largely preserved and the house is still
open to the public.
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Saint-George Memorial Church – Ypres
In the aftermath of World War I, soldiers from dozens of nationalities, from both
sides, were laid to rest in cemeteries all over the Westhoek. Nearly every town in
Flanders has honoured its fallen soldiers and civilians with monuments, memorials
and cemeteries.
Talbot House and Concert Hall – Poperinge
One of the most impressive and well-known memorials is the Menenpoort (Menin Gate,
see p. 2) in Ypres. The gate was constructed in 1927 and is dedicated to the commemoration of 54,896 British and Commonwealth soldiers who were killed in the Ypres
Salient, and whose graves are unknown. Their names are carved in the stone panels
that cover the inside of the gate. The gate has been designed by architect Sir Reginald
Blomfield, who also designed the Saint-George Memorial Church (Ypres), built in 1929
as a typical English parish church.
Anglo-Saxon cemeteries and memorials are wide-spread in the Ypres region. The
cemeteries are managed and maintained by the Commonwealth Wargraves Commission.
The Commonwealth Tyne Cot Cemetery is the largest British military cemetery on
mainland Europe. Among the 11,956 fallen men also lie a few German soldiers. On
request of the British King George V, the so-called Cross of Sacrifice was built on top
of a captured German bunker. With a remarkable garden and fine architecture the
Bedford House Cemetery in Zillebeke, a classified monument, is just as impressive.
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Bedford House Cemetery – Zillebeke
Commonwealth Tyne Cot Cemetery – Passendale
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Island of Ireland Peace Park – Mesen
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Both the Irish Island and New Zealand have memorial parks in Mesen. The Island of
Ireland Peace Park with its round tower commemorates the Battle of Mesen on 7 June
1917 during which Irish Protestants and Catholics fought side by side. By doing so,
they transcended all religious and political conflicts. A New Zealandic division took
part in the same battle, annually commemorated in the New Zealand Memorial Park.
New Zealand Memorial Park – Mesen
French Military Cemetery Saint Charles de Potyse – Ypres (top and bottom)
The Vladslo Praatbos is home to a German military cemetery. Young German volunteer
Peter Kollwitz was laid to rest here. Deeply affected by her son’s death, Käthe Kollwitz
made the world famous ‘Mourning Parents’ sculpture group, which can be admired in
Vladslo since 1957.
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Carrefour des Roses – Boezinge
The most important French memorial sites are located in Ypres (French Military
Cemetery Saint Charles de Potyse) and in Boezinge (Carrefour des Roses). The latter
is one of the most striking memorials in the Westhoek. Designed in the spirit of a
picturesque Breton-Normandy landscape, it was raised in honour of the Breton
soldiers killed during Germany’s first gas attack on 22 April 1915.
Praatbos – Vladslo
In Bruges, 13 people accused of espionage or of assisting the enemy, were executed by German firing squads between December 1914 and August 1916. A memorial
called Beluik der Gefusilleerden (Courtyard of the Executed) commemorates the place
of execution which is also known as the Aurorahof.
In Leuven, a remarkable, story-telling monument was erected on the city's
Martelarenplein (Martyrs’ Square) to commemorate the death of hundreds of civilians
on 25 August 1914. The ravaged city and the destruction of the university library soon
became a symbol of the German aggression against Belgium. The monument has
been beautifully restored in 2004.
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Belgian soldiers have been buried in municipal cemeteries all over Flanders. In
Mechelen, for instance, 309 soldiers were laid to rest. Most of these soldiers were
killed during the Battle of Antwerp in August and September of 1914.
Courtyard of the Executed – Bruges
Monument Martyr’s Square – Leuven
ABOUT US
IN FLANDERS FIELDS MUSEUM
& KNOWLEDGE CENTRE
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The In Flanders Fields Museum,
accommo­dated in the Cloth Hall of
Ypres, gives an elaborate overview
of the history of World War I.
Fourteen sections, which run into
each other nearly imperceptibly,
provide a chronological overview
of the events, during and after the
Great War. This chronology also covers various topics, such as industrial warfare, the
high flight of medical technology, refugees and prisoners of war, the multinational
facet of the war,... Three types of interactive booths make it possible to explore the
stories , facts and connections in more depth.
The In Flanders Fields Knowledge Centre holds a number of very wealthy and unique
collections: books, photos, front maps, newspapers, magazines, documentation folders, memorabilia, personal documents, posters, audiovisual material and shadow
archives of and about World War I or related subjects. The Knowledge Centre is only at
a stone’s throw from the museum, behind the St Martin’s Church.
In Flanders Fields Museum
In Flanders Fields Knowledge Centre
Lakenhallen, Grote Markt 34 Janseniusstraat 9
BE-8900 Ypres
BE-8900 Ypres
T +32 (0)57 239 220T +32 (0)57 239 450
E [email protected]
E [email protected]
W www.inflandersfields.be
W www.inflandersfields.be
PHOTO CREDITS: All pictures by In Flanders Fields – Daniel Leroy except for: Cover: Monument Martyr’s
Square © Toerisme Leuven / Fortress n°8 (Hoboken) © Bart Dewaele / Commonwealth Tyne Cot Cemetery
© Location Flanders / Fort Napoleon © Bart Dewaele | p. 6: Atlantikwall © Bart Dewaele | p. 9: Fortress of
Merksem © Bart Dewaele | p. 10: Leopold Military Station © Dienst Toerisme Gent / Fortress n° 8 (Hoboken)
© Bart Dewaele | p. 11: Harbour Zeebrugge © Jan Darthet – Toerisme Brugge | p. 12: Fort Napoleon © Bart
Dewaele / Military Hospital © Vanhaerts nv | p. 14: Cloth Hall and Belfry © Asier Villafranca | p. 15: Liberty of
Bruges © Raym's Fotosite | p. 16: City Hall © Jorisvo | p. 17: Palace at the Meir © Location Flanders | p. 18:
City Hall © Dienst Toerisme Veurne | p. 21: Saint-George Memorial Church (interior) © Location Flanders |
p. 23: Commonwealth Tyne Cot Cemetery © Location Flanders | p. 28: Monument Martyr’s Square © Toerisme
Leuven | p. 29: Courtyard of the Executed © Stad Brugge Dienst Monumentenzorg en Stadvernieuwing
Location Flanders
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