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Monument · Ypres, West Flanders
Menin Gate
Arch-shaped memorial at the east exit of Ypres, with the names of more than 54,000 Commonwealth soldiers with no known grave. Every night the Last Post takes place there.
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 Menin Gate
The Menenpoort stands where the road to Menen left the town, crossing the ditch of the old ramparts. Hundreds of thousands of British and Commonwealth soldiers marched this way to the front line. The memorial was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and unveiled on 24 July 1927.
The walls of the Hall of Memory, the covered passage, and the side staircases bear the names of about 54,000 men who died in the Ypres salient and were never identified: British, Canadian, Australian, South African and Indian soldiers, among others. Those missing after August 1917 are commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial.
Every night, since 2 July 1928, traffic is stopped beneath the arch and buglers of the Last Post Association, dressed in the uniform of the town’s volunteer fire brigade, sound the Last Post. The ceremony was only interrupted during the German occupation in the Second World War.
The ceremony takes place at the start of the evening, always at the same fixed time, every day of the year. On some evenings there is a laying of wreaths, a reading of Laurence Binyon’s poem, a minute of silence and participation by visiting bands or choirs. Organisers ask for silence and no applause, either during or after.
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
Half an hour during the day to read the names. The Last Post ceremony lasts a few minutes on ordinary nights and a bit longer on nights with wreaths.
Best time
During the day to read the panels at leisure. At night for the ceremony, which takes place every day at the same fixed time at the start of the evening: check the time before you go and arrive early, especially in summer and in November.
How to get there
It stands at the end of Menenstraat, about a five-minute walk from the Grote Markt, to the east.
Tip
To see the ceremony up close, arrive early and stand on the pavement beneath the arch, without stepping onto the road. Put your phone away during the minute of silence.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Menin Gate
Do you need to reserve to watch the Last Post?
No. The ceremony is open to the public and does not require a reservation. Only those who want to take part actively, for example by laying a wreath, should arrange it in advance with the Last Post Association.
Can you applaud at the end?
No. Organizers request silence throughout the ceremony and do not allow applause, not even at the end.