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Military cemetery · Poperinge, West Flanders
Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery
A Commonwealth cemetery in the countryside south of Poperinge, with nearly 11,000 graves of soldiers from various nations who died in the field hospitals established there between 1915 and 1920.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery
Lijssenthoek lies in the countryside south of Poperinge, near a former railway halt called Remy Siding. The site was close to the front but out of range of most German artillery. For that reason it hosted French casualty clearing stations and, from June 1915, British casualty clearing posts for the wounded from Ypres.
Those who died in these hospitals were buried alongside. The cemetery contains 10,785 graves of soldiers from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and India, as well as French, German, Chinese and American dead. It is the largest Commonwealth hospital cemetery in the world.
Among the graves is that of nurse Nellie Spindler, from Wakefield in England, hit by shrapnel on 21 August 1917. She is the only woman buried there. The entrance and shelters were designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield, with Arthur Hutton.
The visitor centre, next to the car park, tells the story of the site and the hospitals. In 2023 the cemetery was added to the Unesco World Heritage list.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1 hour, including the visitor centre.
Best time
From April to October, when the visitor centre usually has longer opening hours. The low light at the end of the day illuminates the rows of headstones well. Check before you go.
How to get there
It is on Boescheepseweg, south of the centre of Poperinge. The route is along a rural road, and the most common access is by car or bicycle, with parking beside the visitor centre.
Tip
At the visitor centre look for the story of one of the soldiers buried on that date: the site highlights one name per day. The register showing the location of graves is at the entrance.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery
Why are there so many nationalities in this cemetery?
Because the hospitals treated wounded from all the Allied armies, and also German prisoners. Those who died were buried there, without separating by country.
Who was Nellie Spindler?
An English nurse of the Queen Alexandra military service, killed by shrapnel on 21 August 1917 while she was sleeping. She is the only woman buried in Lijssenthoek.
Can you walk from the center of Poperinge?
It's a long walk along a country road. The most common way is to go by car, by bicycle, or by taxi.