Top Things to do in Mesen
5 Things to do in Mesen That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Mesen, Belgium including Messines Ridge (N.Z.) Memorial, NZ Messines Ridge Memorial, Island of Ireland Peace Park, Messines Ridge, Sint-Niklaaskerk Mesen.
1. Messines Ridge (N.Z.) Memorial
2. NZ Messines Ridge Memorial
3. Island of Ireland Peace Park
4. Messines Ridge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By NomadicKiwi1 - North Shore, New Zealand
My partner and I visited Messines (Mesen) because of its connection to New Zealand from when the NZ Troops took back the city during WW1. As a New Zealander I felt it was important to pay my respects here. In the main square there is a New Zealand Soldier Statue and a Christmas Truce Statue. There is also a fascinating Free Information Centre / Museum with photos and videos of WW1 Soldiers in the area at the time and a collection of personal artefacts from a Kiwi Soldier (There is a Public Toilet located next to the Museum which was appreciated as it was difficult to find these in the area on a journey around the WW1 sites) The Church of Saint Nicolas is worth a visit (although the crypt where Hitler was treated during the war has a very uneasy feel to it) There is also a memorial outside honouring the connection between Belgium and New Zealand and information about a Kiwi Soldier awarded a VC. We then travelled down 'New Zealand Street' to the NZ Memorial which (appropriately) had ferns and native Toetoe growing around it. There was also a detailed map outlining how the Kiwis took back the city and two German pillboxes still standing. Our last stop was Messine Ridge (NZ Memorial) and Cemetery up on the Hill which has a NZ Memorial to the Missing and many soldiers from the different countries buried side by side. This also provides a good viewpoint of the Messines Ridge Area so you can see the challenge the Men faced. As we left the Cemetery it started to snow, which felt very poignant and appropriate. I would highly recommend a visit to Messines to all New Zealanders - the personal connection to our country and the respect still shown to the Kiwis here is a very moving thing to behold. Lest We Forget.
