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Museum · Ypres, West Flanders
In Flanders Fields Museum
Museum about the First World War in Flanders, on the upper floor of the Lakenhalle. It tells the war through personal stories of soldiers, nurses and civilians.
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 In Flanders Fields Museum
The In Flanders Fields Museum occupies the upper floor of the Lakenhalle, on the Grote Markt. It took that name in 1998 when it replaced the old Ypres salient museum; the title comes from the poem written in 1915 by the Canadian physician John McCrae.
The route covers the German invasion of Belgium in 1914, the four years of trench warfare in the Westhoek, the region of western Flanders, and the end of the conflict and how it came to be remembered. Displays include gas masks, medical equipment, uniforms, an ammunition cart with a mule and interactive installations.
On entry, each visitor receives a chip wristband shaped like a poppy. It sets the language and links the route to the story of a real person, who appears throughout the galleries. The museum's aim is to show the human cost of the war without glorifying it.
The museum runs a research centre that holds the list of names of all the dead in the region. From there you also ascend to the Belfort, with views over the rebuilt town and the fields where the front line once ran.
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
At least two hours for the museum. Add half an hour to an hour for the climb up the Belfort.
Best time
Right at opening in the morning, before school groups and tour parties arrive. From October to March the museum usually closes on Mondays: check before you go.
How to get there
The entrance is in the Lakenhalle, facing the Grote Markt. From Ieper station it's about a ten-minute walk through the town centre.
Tip
Visit the museum before going to the front. It provides the context of the battles of Ypres and helps to understand what you later see in the cemeteries and trenches.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about In Flanders Fields Museum
What is the poppy wristband for?
It has a chip that selects the language and links the visit to the story of a person who lived through the war. At points along the route, the wristband activates segments of that story.
Is it worth bringing children to this museum?
Yes, with supervision. The subject is heavy, but the exhibition does not overuse shocking images and there are many objects and installations that help explain the war to younger visitors.
Can you research a relative at the museum?
The museum's research centre works with the list of names of the dead in the Westhoek. Contact them before your trip to find out how the service operates.