100 jaar Groote Oorlog

F L A N D E R S F I E L D S

THE GREAT WAR

www.fl andersfi elds.beCENTENARY

2014 - 2015E V E N T S

01/11/2013 – 30/06/2014 Ieper, In Flanders Fields MuseumTHEMED EXHIBITION ‘WAR AND TRAUMA’: SOLDIERS AND AMBULANCES Major themed exhibition in collaboration with the Museum Dr. Guislain in Ghent. The exhibition highlights the moving and often tragic medical aspects of war and confl ict. > www.infl andersfi elds.be> T. +32 (0)57 23 92 20

25/04/2014 ZonnebekeANZAC DAY CEREMONYThe sacrifi ces of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps are remembered at a dawn service at 6.00 a.m. in Buttes New British Cemetery, followed by breakfast for all the participants. > www.passchendaele.be > T. +32 (0)51 77 04 41

25/04/2014 – 27/04/2014 Mesen OPENING WEEKEND - HOUSE OF CULTURE AND TOURISM, MESENDuring the opening weekend of this new tourist information point in Mesen a new permanent exhibition about the Great War will be opened. The Battle of Mesen (Messines) and the role played in it by troops from New Zealand are the central theme of this exhibition.> www.mesen.be > T. +32 (0)57 22 17 14

04/07/2014 Ieper CARILLON FESTIVALFestival with the participation of war memorial bell-ringers.> www.visitypres.be > T. +32 (0)57 23 92 20

16/08/2014 – 17/08/2014 ZonnebekePASSCHENDAELE MEMORIAL CRICKET CUP (TO BE CONFIRMED)International cricket teams will take part in the fi rst ‘Passchendaele Memorial Cricket Cup’. In 1914, the national cricket competition in England was suspended, so that hundreds of players could enlist in the armed forces. > www.passchendaele.be > T. +32 (0)51 77 04 41

6/09/2014 – 5/09/2015 PoperingeL.69 _ THE RAILWAY LINE FROM POPERINGE TO HAZEBROUCKA tangled logistical network of railway lines and sidings, linked to the transport stories of troops, munitions, refugees, stores, the sick and the wounded. An event with just as many different branches as the railway: open-air exposition, diorama and a mobile app.> www.lijssenthoek.be/en > T. +32 (0)57 34 66 76

15/8/14 – 15/12/14 Zonnebeke, Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917EXHIBITION ‘THE OLD CONTEMPTIBLES’The story of the ‘Old Contemptibles’ is brought to life in a unique exhibition.> www.passchendaele.be > T. +32 (0)51 77 04 41

01/10/2014 – 04/01/2015 Ieper, In Flanders Fields MuseumHISTORIC EXHIBITION ‘THE BATTLE OF THE YSER AND THE FIRST BATTLE OF YPRES’PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION ‘RETROSPECTIVE MAURICE AND ROBERT ANTONY’The museum is organizing a historical exhibition that focuses on the Battle of the Ijzer and the First Battle of Ieper. This will run concurrently with a retrospective photographic exhibition of the work of Maurice and Robert Antony.> www.infl andersfi elds.be > T. +32 (0)57 23 92 20

10/10/2014 – 15/11/2018 Diksmuide, Museum on the IJzerEXHIBITION: ‘THE BATTLE OF THE IJZER AND THE BATTLE OF DIKSMUIDE’The Battle of the IJzer and the Battle of Diksmuide are the central themes of this exhibition in the renovated Museum on the IJzer (in the IJzer Tower). > www.fl andersfi elds.be > T. +32 (0)51 50 02 86

17/10/2014 At various locations in the WesthoekLIGHT FRONT ’14 & THE LIST OF NAMES 8,750 torch-bearers will light up the old front line of November 1914 from Nieuwpoort on the North Sea Coast to Ploegsteert (Plugstreet) near the French border. At the same time, a list of names of the victims of the war will be projected on three symbolic towers: the Belfry in Ieper, the Ijzer Tower in Diksmuide and the King Albert I Memorial in Nieuwpoort. The evening will be rounded off in Nieuwpoort with a concert by Arno and the opening of the new visitors’ centre at the ‘De Ganzenpoot’ lock complex. > www.gonewest.be

8/11/2014 Diksmuide CONCERT ‘THE FALL OF DIKSMUIDE’Numerous activities during the day, rounded off with a unique musical creation by the German musicians of Einstürzende Neubauten.> www.gonewest.be & www.diksmuide.be\toerisme > T. +32 (0)51 79 30 50

2014

11/11/2014 IeperARMISTICE & CONCERT ‘THE GREAT WAR REMEMBERED’This day starts with the traditional memorial ceremony ‘Armistice’ at 11 o’clock in the morning, followed by the concert ‘The Great War Remembered’ at 16.30 o’clock in the Saint-Martin’s Cathedral.> www.lastpost.be

14/11/2014 – 31/12/2014 Poperinge, Talbot HouseEXHIBITION ‘DOVE-MYTHOLOGIES 2014-2018’Artist Raoul Servais explores four unusual wartime myths in drawings, water colours and animatics.> www.talbothouse.be > T. +32 (0)57 33 32 28

18 & 20/12/2014 CHRISTMAS TRUCEChristmas Truce, a sudden armistice between German, British and French soldiers, inspires folk artist Alan Stivell to create new work. On 20 December the legendary John Cale will give a concert in Mesen, combining new work with his well-known songs. > www.gonewest.be (in collaboration

with Flanders Peace Field)

19/12/2014 – 21/12/2014 Ieper (football stadium VK Westhoek) & MesenFLANDERS PEACE FIELD - CHRISTMAS TRUCE EVENTFootball competition in collaboration with the Premier League and various national football associations. On 21/12 a ceremony will be held to commemorate the Christmas truces, in the presence of legendary fi gures from the world of football. > www.fl andersfi elds.be

22/12/2014 Ieper, CathedralCHRISTMAS TRUCE: THE BESTCHRISTMAS PRESENT IN THE WORLDVirginia McKenna & The Voices at the Door (consisting of Coope, Boyes and Simpson, Fi Fraser, Jo Freya and Georgina Boyes) will introduce ‘The Best Christmas Present in The World’. This performance is based on new textual material from the British writer Michael Morpurgo, also known from the book and movie ‘War Horse’.> www.gonewest.be

201528/03/2015 – 13/09/2015 Poperinge, Kids’ BreweryEXHIBITION ‘ILLUSTRATED BY THE WAR’Top illustrators allow themselves to be inspired by WWI and the landscape in which it was fought. The exhibition is linked to a digital experience route. > E. kinderbrouwerij@mail.com > T. +32 (0)496 27 96 58

15/04/2015 – 20/06/2015 Ieper, In Flanders Fields MuseumHISTORICAL EXHIBITION ‘SECOND BATTLE OF YPRES – GAS ATTACK’The museum is organizing a historical exhibition that focuses on the Second Battle of Ieper.> www.infl andersfi elds.be > T. +32 (0)57 23 92 20

22/04/2015 Ieper & Langemark-PoelkapelleINTERNATIONAL CEREMONY OF REMEMBRANCE TO COMMEMORATE THE FIRST GAS ATTACK > www.visitypres.be > T. +32 (0)57 23 92 20> www.langemark-poelkapelle.be > T. +32 (0)57 49 09 41

24/04/2015 – 30/08/2015 Poperinge, ‘De Lovie’ ParkARTISTIC CIRCUIT AND SOUND-AND-LIGHT SHOW ‘WIND DANGEROUS’During WWI, the warning ‘Wind Dangerous’ indicated that there was a chance of an imminent gas attack. The artistic circuit inspired by this ominous warning is the creation of artist Peter De Cupere. A unique sound-and-light spectacular is part of the programme.> www.lijssenthoek.be > T. +32 (0)57 34 66 76

24/04/2015 – 15/12/2015 Zonnebeke, Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917EXHIBITION ‘DECODING THE FRONT’A prestigious exhibition devoted to international communication during WWI.> www.passchendaele.be > T. +32 (0)51 77 04 41

25/04/2015 ZonnebekeANZAC DAY CEREMONYExactly 100 years ago, soldiers from Australia and New Zealand landed at Gallipoli, which marked their entrance into the ‘Great War’. The troops of both countries came to Flanders for the fi rst time in 1917, to take part in the bloody Battle of Passendale. ANZAC Day begins traditionally with the dawn service at Buttes New British Cemetery, followed by a breakfast for all the participants.> www.passchendaele.be > T. +32 (0)51 77 04 41

25/04/2015 – 26/04/2015 ZonnebekeANZAC DAYPrecisely 100 years after ANZAC day in 1915 and 100 years after Canadian soldiers were confronted with combat gas, internationally renowned artists from Australia, New Zealand and Canada come together in a musical remembrance project to commemorate the 100th anniversary of ANZAC Day.> www.gonewest.be

THE GREAT WAR CENTENARY

LONG RUNNING EVENTSTHE LAST POSTThe Last Post is played at 8 o’clock sharp every evening under the Menin Gate Memorial in Ieper. This ceremony, the traditional salute to the fallen, is conducted in honour of the memory of the soldiers of the then British Empire and their allies who died in the Ypres Salient during the First World War.> www.lastpost.be

COMING WORLD/REMEMBER MEVisitors are invited to take part in this plastic arts project organized by GoneWest, by making a fi gure out of clay. These fi gures will serve as a tribute to the 600,000 victims who died in Belgium during the First World War. At the end of the 2014-2018 remembrance period, the 600,000 fi gures will all be displayed in the Palingbeek provincial park. > www.gonewest.be

25/04/2015 – 26/04/2015 ZonnebekePASSCHENDAELE MEMORIAL CRICKET CUP (TO BE CONFIRMED)> www.passchendaele.be > T. +32 (0)51 77 04 41

05/2015 – 07/2015 Poperinge, near Lijssenthoek CemeteryMUSICAL PRODUCTION ‘LIJSSENTHOEK TERMINUS’A unique musical performance created by the Town of Poperinge in collaboration with Musicals in Flanders. Personal WWI stories linked to the cemetery are central to the performance.> www.lijssenthoek.be/en > T. +32 (0)57 34 66 76

23/05/2015 Ieper, Sint-MaartenspleinDANCE PERFORMANCEThis contemporary dance performance refers to the gas attacks of 22 April 1915.> www.gonewest.be

9/07/2015 Ieper, centre30.000TH LAST POSTThis day will be devoted entirely to the 30,000th playing of the Last Post. Since 1928 a deeply moving ceremony is performed by the buglers from the local fi re brigade under the vast arch of the Menin Gate, every evening at 8 pm. The 30.000th Last Post will be a ‘tribute to the tribute’ event.> www.gonewest.be

9/07/2015 Ieper, centreTHE LAST POST: SPECIAL EDITIONIn the evening, at 8 o ‘clock sharp, the Last Post will be played for the 30,000th time under the Menin Gate Memorial in Ieper.> www.lastpost.be

11/11/2015 IeperARMISTICE & CONCERT ‘THE GREAT WAR REMEMBERED’This day starts with the traditional memorial ceremony ‘Armistice’ at 11 o’clock in the morning, followed by the concert ‘The Great War Remembered’ at 16.30 o’clock in the Saint-Martin’s Cathedral.> www.lastpost.be

11/12/2015 – 14/12/2015 Poperinge, Talbot HouseEVENTS TO MARK THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF TALBOT HOUSEThe 100th anniversary celebrations for Talbot House will start on 11 December with a week of varied activities in Talbot House itself.> www.talbothouse.be > T. +32 (0)57 33 32 28

18/12/2015 – 20/12/2015 PoperingePIANO FESTIVALDuring the weekend of 18-20 December, GoneWest will be organizing a piano festival in Poperinge, to symbolize the piano that fi rst played in Talbot House 100 years ago. The three-day festival offers a varied programme of different genres performed by internationally recognized artists, who will also play a number of new pieces specially composed to commemorate the First World War. Amateur pianists will also be given the chance to show what they can do. > www.gonewest.be

WESTHOEK INFO:Koning Albert I-laan 120, 8200 Brugge

T. +32 (0)50 30 55 00info@westtoer.be - www.fl andersfi elds.be

VISITORS’ CENTRE FOR YPRES AND THE WESTHOEKGrote Markt 34 - 8900 Ieper

T. +32 (0)57 23 92 20 - F +32 (0)57 23 92 75toerisme@ieper.be - www.visitypres.be

Responsible publisher: Stefaan Gheysen – Westtoer – Brugge

WD/3029/2013/63The calendar was compiled with the utmost care.

However, we are not responsible for any changes, missing or incorrect information and the consequences arising from it.

Photography: Bart Heirweg, David Samyn, B.ad