Go back in time with your family and discover life in 1815! The historic weekend of the Battle of Waterloo is an unmissable event in Belgium’s Walloon Brabant. It takes place every year in June. This year, I went there for the first time with my 6-year-old son, Jules.
For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, on 18 June 1815, two days after the battles of Ligny and Quatre-Bras, Napoleon faced the allied army on the plateau of Mont-Saint-Jean. The Duke of Wellington, commander-in-chief of the allied forces, decided to deploy his army there. The British army at the time was undoubtedly the best defence in the world, facing the most effective army in offence.
I have always loved stories related to our past, no matter how difficult they may be. And the Battle of Waterloo is one of them. This year, my son was old enough to understand the events linked to this battle and the importance of this commemoration. A day filled with encounters and emotions of all kinds, which must have sparked a lot of reflection.
Our immersive day began with our arrival at the bottom of the Lion’s Mound. A great surprise for Jules who had never seen the monument from up close! Then, with great confidence, we started a little morning walk through the fields, to get to where the reenactment would take place: the Hougoumont Farm.
For a little pre-show entertainment, after we had just sat down in the audience to admire the show, a group of reenactors invited themselves next to Jules to play a game of dice with him and gave him a little souvenir… What a joy!
One hour of performance followed, accompanied by some much needed commentary to understand what was happening in front of us. From the very beginning, our breath was taken away by the cannon shots that exploded before our eyes. Then rifle shots echoed throughout the plain, while the cavalry charges were impressive.
A victory for some, a defeat for others, but, above all, an incredible thank you to all these reenactors who proudly take on their role and are committed to being the guardians of the duty of remembrance.
The Hougoumont Farm was a strategic location for the battle in 1815. Now, during the historic weekend, the camp site set up there offers the opportunity for adults and children to understand the lives of soldiers at the time. The reenactors live there exactly as soldiers did in 1815, without much comfort! They sleep in simple fabric tents where their mattresses, made of straw, are placed on the ground. You can see their bags, their gear, but also all their equipment for living and cooking. By putting yourself in their shoes, you can imagine how heavy and cumbersome all this must have been to transport…
Within the farm, next to the camp site, the “civil village” is also organized. There were demonstrations of several trades of the time, such as the weaving loom or the work of the peasants in the fields. For children, there were workshops, such as making bread or playing old wooden games. A great way to get an idea of the way of life at the time.
For us, what appealed to Jules the most were all the explanations of the infirmary in 1815! Many strange tools were on display and the practices at the time were very cruel! Certainly, the little boo-boo he had got at school on Monday suddenly seemed much less serious…
When we arrived in the courtyard of the Caillou Farm, the meal of Emperor Napoleon and his General Staff was taking place in the background. But Jules was immediately attracted by the group of children in front of us who were simply having fun with giant soap bubbles! A different welcome from that time but which undoubtedly delighted the young ones! It was as if touches of gentleness were added to the sombre atmosphere of the battle.
If I must tell you just one special thing to do with the kids during the historic weekend, I highly recommend the “Little Soldier School” at Napoleon’s Last Headquarters. In one hour, Jules learned the basics of the soldiers’ vintage outfits and was able to shoot with a wooden rifle (much larger than him) using flour and foam cartridges. This activity, which is led by a reenactor, is as educational as it is fun, a pure moment of joy shared by adults and children!
While wandering around the French camp site, we were able to caress the horses which had courageously participated in the reenactment. But the cherry on top was that, before leaving, we had the chance to meet Napoleon in person! Jules jokingly told Napoleon that “it was a shame that he lost” and to this, Napoleon, very optimistic, simply replied: “you are right, good man, we will try again next year!” We will certainly go back next year. Who knows… maybe we’ll have a different ending to the story?
The Waterloo 1815 battlefield stretches for almost 10km and is made up of, as you may know, several attractions to visit year-round. To begin with, the museum of Napoleon’s Last Headquarters retraces the few hours before the battle and displays an array of civil and military items of the time. The museum, thanks to its beautiful scenography, is undoubtedly suitable for families and especially children who, throughout the tour, have the opportunity to learn while having fun.
The Domaine de la Bataille de Waterloo 1815 is made up of 4 attractions:
- the Memorial Museum (located below the battlefield). The visit will take you through the entire history of the battle through uniforms, historical objects, immersive exhibitions and even a 3D film!
- the incredible panorama, where you will find a 110m long painted canvas depicting combat scenes
- the famous Lion’s Mound with its 226 steps (as Jules would say, is that a lot?!) which promises you an impressive view if you dare climb to the top!
- and finally, the Hougoumont Farm, which, in addition to its 2 new museum rooms, offers innovative scenography!
Finally, the Wellington Museum (Duke Wellington’s Headquarters), located in the centre of the city of Waterloo, invites you to discover a whole series of military objects used during the battle.
If you want to discover the life of soldiers but not during the reenactment, many themed events are organized throughout the year at the foot of the Lion’s Mound or at Napoleon’s Last Headquarters. Discover life in the camp sites, cannon shots, horse-drawn carriage rides, pyjama parties at the museum and many other activities to create memories with your family!
I will undoubtably return with my family to visit each place of the battlefield, to immerse myself a little more in this History, with a capital H, while waiting to take part in the great reenactment of 2025, which will mark the 210th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo!
