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Belgium

Flanders Fields

With many things to do in Flanders, one of the most poignant places to visit is Flanders Fields. Discover the history behind Flanders Fields by visiting the Flanders Field museum when you visit Ypres, Belgium.

Between 1914 and 1918, Flanders Fields saw some of the largest battles of the First World War, and in turn suffered some of the most significant losses of military personnel and civilians in military history.

Take a day trip to Flanders Field and discover the history, stories and commemorations behind the events that took place in Flanders Fields. From museum visits to WWI cemeteries, battlefield tours and monument visits, there are plenty of opportunities to explore, learn and pay tribute to those lost during the First World War.

This now peaceful landscape is home to the largest Commonwealth military cemetery in the world, Tyne Cot Cemetery. A common thing to do in Flanders Fields is take a tour around this, and the many other war cemeteries, occur daily and are a poignant way to explore Flanders Fields whilst honouring those who lost their lives.

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DVR

Dover

CQF

Calais

Morning	02:00	04:25	06:50	09:15
Midday	11:40
Afternoon	14:05	16:30
Evening	18:55	21:15	23:40

Book tickets from £ 126

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1
Tyne Cot Cemetery
2
In Flanders Fields Museum
3
Tours and The Last Post
4
Discover Flanders Fields

Discover Flanders Fields

Tyne Cot Cemetery

The Tyne Cot Cemetery is perhaps one of the most recognised war sites and places to visit in Flanders Fields. This remarkable site is the largest military cemetery of the Commonwealth War Graves in Europe and is the resting place of 11,954 soldiers. Located on the memorial wall at the end of the former battlefields overlooking the cemetery, in a touching commemoration, are the names of the 35,000 soldiers of which have no known grave. The fully accessible visitor centre at Tyne Cot offers panoramic views over the battlefields, the chance to learn more about the war site and is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00. Only closed from 1 December to 31 January there are lots of best times to visit Flanders Field, notably one of the most moving is around remembrance day in November.

If you’d like to learn more about World War I by visiting Flanders Fields, book your ferry to Belgium today.

In Flanders Fields Museum

The In Flanders Fields Museum stands to tell the stories and honour those who witnessed and fought the WW1 battles in the fields of Flanders.

From the beginning of the war movements to each significant battle, right through to Armistice Day and the commemorations that continue to this very day. The museum includes state of the art multimedia to immerse yourself into, a great way of discovering more about the Great War. With educational programs, restaurants and other facilities, the Flanders Field museum is a must see and a good starting point before heading out on one of the many memorial tours.

Tours and The Last Post

As well as visiting museums and memorials there are a number of tours and events available throughout the year at Flanders Fields – including accessible tours. From battlefield tours to exhibitions and music performances, not forgetting the very moving experience of observing the ‘Last Post’.

Here in Flanders Field, every evening at 8pm, since 1928, the 'Last Post' has been sounded under the imposing arches of the Menin Gate – a memorial arch displaying the names of 54,896 soldiers who went missing in action. Observing the ‘Last Post’ is a fitting end to a day trip in Flanders Field touring around the war sites and memorials.

If you prefer to organise your own self-guided tour, Flanders Fields and its surrounding countryside offer ample opportunities to explore the historic war sites and beyond. Whether you are planning to explore the region by bike, foot or campervan, there are plenty of WW1 themed trails, camping sites and cycling routes available for you to explore the area. Book your ferry to Belgium today and start planning your trip now!

The last post being sounded at Menin Gate

Wonder peacefully through Flanders Fields, and discover the history behind the many memorial sites and war graves.

FAQs:

1. Where is Flanders Field?

Flanders Fields is a region located in the northern part of Belgium, specifically in the provinces of West Flanders and East Flanders. It is historically significant for being the site of many key battles during World War I, particularly the Battle of Ypres. The area is renowned for its war memorials, cemeteries, and museums, which commemorate the soldiers who fought and died there. The term "Flanders Fields" is famously associated with the poem "In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae.

2. Where to see Flanders Field’s poppies?

Many people visit Flanders Field to see its poppies and understand the history behind them. Flanders Fields poppies are symbolic flowers associated with the World War I battlefields of Flanders, particularly in Belgium. The poppy became a symbol of remembrance for soldiers who died in the war. The red poppies grew in abundance across the battlefields, thriving in the disturbed soil of the trenches. Today, the poppy serves as a symbol of remembrance for fallen soldiers, particularly around Remembrance Day but are also located around memorials and museums in and amongst Flanders Field.

3. How to get to Flanders Field?

To reach Flanders Fields from the UK by ferry, take a ferry from Dover to Calais (1.5 hours) and drive to Ypres (1.5 hours), Both routes offer easy access to key historical sites like the Menin Gate and In Flanders Fields Museum. Travelling to Belgium couldn’t be easier with P&O Ferries. Our onboard facilities and amenities ensure there is plenty to do onboard. Don’t worry about forgetting anything even if it is a day trip to Flanders Field as our onboard duty free will offer all the key essentials you will need.

4. How to get to Flanders Fields from Bruges?

Getting to Flanders Field from Bruges is easy. By car, caravan, or van the drive takes around 30 to 40 minutes. With many different places to visit in Flanders Field you can stop off and visit many WW1 Flanders Fields memorials including Ypres and Passchendaele.

5. How to get to Flanders Field from Brussels?

To get to Flanders Fields from Brussels, one of the easiest ways is by driving. Taking approximately 1.5 hours depending on traffic there are lots of sites to visit along the way. Whether it’s a day trip to Flanders Fields or a longer stay, as well as memorials, there are beautiful country walks and bike rides to go on as well as visiting lots of restaurants too.

Book your ferry to Belgium today and start planning your Belgium trip today to explore all the historical and heritage sites as well as Belgium delicacies to fully immerse yourself in the country’s culture, beauty and history.

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