Flanders Fields

Everyone is moved by a visit to Flanders Fields. For four long years West Flanders was the scene of the First World War. Homes and fields were turned into a battlefield in 1914. European and wider international interests were fought over here. A million soldiers were wounded, missing or killed in action. Some tens of thousands of citizens became refugees. Entire cities and villages were destroyed.

The landscape of the region still tells the story of the war. It contains hundreds of monuments and cemeteries which have great historical significance for the people of many nations. There are a lot of museums which explain in an interactive way all the aspects of the conflict: the battles, daily life, etc. 

Hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world travel to Flanders each year to seek these reminders of the war years. Yearly ceremonies like ANZAC day (commemoration for soldiers of New-Zealand and Australia) show that memories don’t fade away. On the contrary, the burning desire for peace stays alive.