What to do and see in Belgian Westhoek, Flanders: The Best Points of Interest & Landmarks

December 4, 2021 Concepcion Newsome

Discover the best top things to do in Belgian Westhoek, Belgium including Tyne Cot Cemetery, Last Post ceremony, Saint Julien Memorial, Menin Gate Memorial, The Bluff Crater, Ypres Cloth Hall, CWGC Information Centre, De Meesters Molen, City Hall and Belfry, Market Square.
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%
Good
14%
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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. Last Post ceremony

Menin Gate, Ieper (Ypres) Belgium http://www.lastpost.be/
Excellent
87%
Good
11%
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2%
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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.

3. Saint Julien Memorial

Saint-Julien, Langemark, Ieper (Ypres) Belgium http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/overseas/first-world-war/belgium/stjulien
Excellent
77%
Good
22%
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5.0 based on 180 reviews

Saint Julien Memorial

Reviewed By abdinohunter

This site commemorating Canadian Soldiers repelling the first gas attacks in World War 1 is a beautiful garden surrounding a very poignant monument.

4. Menin Gate Memorial

Menenstraat Poort gebouw, Ieper (Ypres) 8900 Belgium +32 57 23 92 20 http://www.lastpost.be/en/home
Excellent
88%
Good
11%
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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. The Bluff Crater

Palingbeekstraat, Zillebeke, Ieper (Ypres) 8902 Belgium +32 57 23 08 40 http://www.toerismeieper.be
Excellent
75%
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25%
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5.0 based on 12 reviews

The Bluff Crater

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
90%
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10%
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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. CWGC Information Centre

Menenstraat 33, 8900 Ieper, Zillebeke, Ieper (Ypres) Belgium 320572791 [email protected] http://www.cwgc.org
Excellent
100%
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

The Ieper Information Centre is located in the heart of Ieper, only meters from the Menin Gate and close to the First World War battlefields. A gift shop is available at the centre. Multi-language service available, offering information and brochures about the CWGC and the numerous sites to visit in the area. Free access to our casualty database via iPad to help you find the location of graves.

8. De Meesters Molen

Veurnestraat 2, Oostvleteren, Vleteren 8640 Belgium
Excellent
50%
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50%
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4.5 based on 2 reviews

De Meesters Molen

9. City Hall and Belfry

Grote Markt, Diksmuide 6800 Belgium http://www.diksmuide.be
Excellent
43%
Good
51%
Satisfactory
5%
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4.5 based on 37 reviews

City Hall and Belfry

10. Market Square

Grote Markt, Ieper (Ypres) Belgium +32 475 93 80 85 http://www.toerisme-ieper.be/en/page/332/explore-historical-ypres-_-medieval-ypres-vauban-ramparts-and-the-great-war-.html
Excellent
60%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
5%
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4.5 based on 930 reviews

Market Square

Reviewed By randymO6999HY - Calgary, Canada

One of the greatest rebuilds I have ever seen. The Market Square, including the Cloth Hall, were masterfully rebuilt. Great market on the days its offered - can't remember which days.

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