Brazil
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
Austria
Croatia
Denmark
Spain
Finland
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Poland
Portugal
the United Kingdom
the Czech Republic
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
the United States
Mexico
the Dominican Republic
South Africa
Australia
Fiji
Museum · Zonnebeke, West Flanders
Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917
Museum in the castle park of Zonnebeke about the battle of Passchendaele, featuring a reconstructed British underground shelter and full-size British and German trenches.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917
The museum is located in the castle park of Zonnebeke, in the middle of the former battlefield. It tells the story of the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as Passchendaele, fought from 31 July to 10 November 1917. The museum itself estimates nearly 600,000 casualties for an advance of about 8 km.
The exhibition follows the sequence of events, with original artefacts, photographs, films and life-size scenes.
The most notable feature is the reconstructed British underground shelter, with a communications post, aid post, barracks and sleeping quarters. It shows how soldiers lived below ground when the surface was already devastated. Zonnebeke has the highest concentration of subterranean structures from the war, and some still appear in excavations.
Outside, the route continues through British and German trenches with shelters, over a trail of more than 750 metres. The museum grew out of a regional collection from 1989, was expanded in 2004 and maintains a research centre with archives, photos and maps.
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
Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for the exhibition and the external trenches.
Best time
It is open most of the year; from April to October the outdoor trench route is more pleasant. It closes on some year-end days and has sometimes been closed for a few weeks in winter. Check before you go.
How to get there
It is located in the centre of Zonnebeke, in the castle park, east of Ypres. There are De Lijn buses from Ypres; by car there is parking near the park. Guided tours of the Salient usually stop here.
Tip
Visit the museum before Tyne Cot: the visit helps to understand the terrain and the scale of the losses. The route includes stairs and narrow corridors in the underground shelter.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917
Is the underground shelter original?
It is a faithful reconstruction, based on British shelters in the area. It shows the work, rest and aid spaces that existed beneath the battlefield.
Is the museum suitable for children?
Yes. The trenches and the shelter usually capture the attention of school-age children, and the museum has materials aimed at families. Assess according to age.
When was the village of Passendale taken?
Canadian troops took the village on 6 November 1917, and the battle ended on 10 November with the occupation of the surrounding ridge.