West Flanders will launch a major remembrance tourism programme in 2027 to mark the centenary of several First World War memorials, backed by an €8 million investment from the Flemish government and the province. The campaign, titled “Monuments & Moments”, will run from June 2027 to November 2028 and aims to connect historical commemoration with contemporary reflection on war and peace.
The Westhoek region in the west of Belgium is closely linked to the memory of the First World War, as large parts of that area were heavily damaged during the conflict between German and Allied forces. Today, the landscape is defined by cemeteries, monuments and preserved trenches. Many of the cemeteries are recognised by Unesco as part of the World Heritage of the First World War. In 2024, almost 365,000 people visited the region’s museums and battlefields, with around half of them travelling from abroad, mainly from the United Kingdom.
The campaign looks back to the years 1927 and 1928. During that period, many important memorials in the Westhoek were officially inaugurated. These monuments were built to honour the soldiers who died in the war and to offer families a place to mourn. One of the most well-known examples is the Menin Gate in Ypres, where the names of more than 54,000 missing soldiers are engraved in stone. Every evening, buglers play the Last Post under the gate, a tradition that has continued for almost a century.
Several key anniversaries will be highlighted during the theme year. These include 100 years of the Tyne Cot Memorial on 19 June 2027 and 100 years of the Menin Gate on 24 July 2027. The 100th Yser Pilgrimage will take place on 5 July 2027, while the Last Post ceremony will mark its 100th anniversary on 2 July 2028. Other commemorations include 90 years of the Albert I monument and 100 years of the Trench of Death. The theme year will also pay attention to the 109th and 110th years since the Armistice of 11 November 1918, which ended the First World War.
The programme will run from 16 June 2027 to 11 November 2028. Tourism organisations Westtoer and Visit Flanders are working together to develop exhibitions, events and educational activities. Visitors will be encouraged to reflect on themes such as loss, reconciliation and peace. The aim is to place more than a century of remembrance into a contemporary context. Organisers want to show that the history of the First World War is not only about the past, but also about the challenges of today’s world.
At the same time, the Flemish government and the province of West Flanders are investing eight million euros in remembrance tourism. Four million euros will go to a complete renovation of the In Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres, which will be transformed into a contemporary museum with a new design and updated exhibitions. Another four million euros will be used for renovation and accessibility improvements at other remembrance sites across the Westhoek. A joint call for projects will be launched in spring 2026 to support these upgrades.
Flemish Minister of Tourism Melissa Depraetere stressed that the message of memorial museums is particularly relevant in the current international context. “With extremists like Putin and Trump at the helm, you can see the threat coming right at us,” she said. “That’s why we must continue to invest in commemorating that history. To remember that we must always continue to fight for our freedom and security.” According to the minister, continued investment ensures that future generations understand the value of peace and freedom.
Since the centenary of the First World War between 2014 and 2018, many sites in the Westhoek have already been opened or renovated. Officials say that after more than ten years, it is time to give these places a new impulse so that they remain relevant for peace education and maintain their strong international reputation. The region has built a global profile thanks to its careful preservation of cemeteries, monuments and museums. Through Monuments & Moments, West Flanders continues to link history with present-day reflection while strengthening its position as one of Europe’s leading destinations for commemorative tourism.
