Top Things to do in Belgian Westhoek
10 Hidden Gems Things to do in Belgian Westhoek That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Belgian Westhoek, Belgium including Flanders Battlefield Tours, Frontline Tours, Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, Cruising Along the Frontline, 2Xplore Flanders Fields, The Longest Hour, Battle of Polygon Wood, Openluchtmuseum Bachten De Kupe, Museum Paul Delvaux, Abdijmuseum Ten Duinen.
Restaurants in Belgian Westhoek
1. Flanders Battlefield Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,014 reviews
Flanders Battlefield Tour is well known for organising both, daily tours of the Ypres Salient and the Somme amongst other Western Front areas. Run by Jacques Ryckebosch and Genevra Charsley both are extremely passionate about the First World War. Prior to Flanders Battlefield Tour Jacques curated for many years at Talbot House (TOC H as it was known by the soldiers/veterans) meeting and becoming good friends with First World War veterans. Genevra Charsley has been a member of the Western Front Association since 1997 and assisting with the Poppy Parade on Armistice in Ieper (Ypres) since 1997, both are associate members of the Guild of Battlefield Guides and both have featured on BBC television and international television. Our guides all come highly recommended and are as equally passionate about the First World War, residing within the Ypres Salient they are always well informed and involved about the latest discoveries and development..
2. Frontline Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 252 reviews
We invite you to join us in the comfort of our air-conditioned Mercedes minibus, for an interesting, informative and unforgettable journey through Flanders Fields and its amazing history.
3. Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 996 reviews
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.
4. Cruising Along the Frontline
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 74 reviews
Private battlefield tours to Flanders Fields and the Somme ... Follow the track of the front soldiers with a WWI historian as your personal guide. - Minibus tours - Motorcycle tours (incl. intercom) - Vespa tours (incl. intercom) (motorbikes and scooters can be rented)
5. 2Xplore Flanders Fields
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 184 reviews
“If you want a superb tour of the WW1 battlefields then you can do no better than be guided by Patrick! Himself a senior military man of considerable contemporary experience, he cleverly sets out an interesting series of events that, at the end of the day, come together to provide a fascinating insight into The Great War! " 2Xplore Tours differs because of its unique concept. Forget about endless lectures and ready explanations on the usual tourist sites. A careful selection is made of “must-see” sites and “off the beaten track” (private) sites, going local!
6. The Longest Hour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 313 reviews
The door closes and you are locked. You and your friends have 1 hour to escape from a mysterious house by solving puzzles and mysteries. The Longest Hour in Ypres is the very first 'real life escape game' in Belgium! A unique and intense experience, for groups of 3 to 6 players. Your age is not important , teamwork is the key to finish the game!
Reviewed By EditCoro - Ghent, Belgium
This was our first escape room experience and we absolutely loved it! It was really great to work together with our kids (10, 13, 14) to get through all puzzles. We had to divide the work according to our abilities and work against the clock. There are 4 rooms in the house, full with different challenging and varied puzzles/challenges to solve, under the theme of WWI. You get some tips via a screen, gradually after some time if they see you are blocked in a room, to help you get to the last room. The challenges are very well thought & designed but some of them are quite difficult to solve.!!!...causing your adrenaline to dangerously rise... It is very fun to observe how we all react in a different way under this pressure. We managed to get out, but I think thanks to the comments we had gotten some from a friend who had been there before... otherwise I am not sure... But independantly of if you manage to get out or not, it is a great experience to have! I recommend it to everybody who likes puzzle solving & adrenaline levels to rise. It is a great activity to do with your family (if your kids like puzzle / challenge solving, and probably best +13, although our 10 year old solved quite some of the puzzles!). We where with 5 and we found that was the perfect number of people. With less we would have felt short of brains & hands, and with 6 we might have bumped too much into each other. We will now try other Escape Rooms in Belgium, but he have heard from friends that The Longest Hour was one of the best in the area.
7. Battle of Polygon Wood
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 123 reviews
Reviewed By AussiesBallarat - Ballarat, Australia
Polygon Wood is a forest located between Ypres and Zonnebeke, Belgium. In the First Battle of Ypres and later at The Battle of Polygon Wood it was a significant First World War battlefield in the Battle of Passchendaele. It was captured by the Australian 5th Division, led by Harold “Pompey” Elliott, on September 26, 1917 as part of the Battle of Menin Road, and there is a memorial to the 5th Division in an elevated position overlooking the main cemetery. Within the wood is a large war cemetery, a New Zealand Memorial to the Missing and an Australian Memorial. Just outside the wood is a small original wartime cemetery. In fact, the entrances to both sites are directly opposite on either side of the road (Lange Dreve), at the north-eastern apex of the wood. There is parking for 2-3 cars in front of the cemetery, or it is possible to park on the edge of the wood in various places and follow the tracks within the wood.
8. Openluchtmuseum Bachten De Kupe
9. Museum Paul Delvaux
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 214 reviews
Reviewed By Sixtine96 - London, United Kingdom
We were fortunate to have one of the ladies working for the museum giving us insights on the frescoes Paul Delvaux created for the Périer House. Reproductions are part of a temporary exhibition. Fascinating story about the vision of an art lover, Mr Périer, immortalised with his wife and daughter on the frescoes. The Périer House is still in private hands. The museum gives you a good idea how the house looked after Delvaux finished his master piece. The permanent collection shows the artist’works from his early beginnings until 1989 when he stopped painting following the death of his wife and declining vision. Beautiful love story. Love defying time and old promises. Well laid out museum.
10. Abdijmuseum Ten Duinen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 98 reviews
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.
