Ieper (Ypres)

Thanks to its flourishing cloth industry, Ypres, along with Bruges and Ghent, was one of the most powerful cities in Flanders in the 13th century. Its strategically important position in the Westhoek meant that the city was besieged on several occasions, resulting in the construction of strong defensive ramparts, which were further extended in the 17th century.

Ypres also paid a heavy price during the First World War, when it was the scene of fierce fighting that left the city in ruins. It was rebuilt after the Armistice, and the most important buildings are exact copies of the originals, like the famous Cloth Hall. This magnificent building is also home to the In Flanders Fields Museum. Witnesses of the war tell their personal stories: these little histories reveal the huge emotions that are so sadly typical of all conflicts. This allows you to experience the horror of the trenches and the bombardment of the city. In the same building you can also find the Yper Museum, which introduces you to other aspects of the city’s thousand-year-old history.

Another witness to the First World War is the Last Post ceremony, traditionally the last salute to the fallen, which has been performed every evening at 8.00 p.m. since 1928 under the Menin Gate by the buglers of the Last Post Association. A poignant moment to reflect on the horrors of war.

There is a train connection between Bruges and Ypres, with a single change of trains in Courtrai (journey time: ca. 1.30 to 1.40 hours); from Ypres station, it is approximately a 10-minute walk to the main Market Square. Various (day) trips are organized from Bruges to Ypres and other sites of interest in the Westhoek.