This compact multi-lingual country is bursting with charming old towns, medieval castles as well as innovative art museums and trendy cafes. Belgium’s countryside is not to be missed especially for your history students. Dubbed the ‘Battleground of Europe’, Belgium is steeped in centuries of war history.
Take your class on a school trip to Belgium, exploring the sites of the World War I battlefields at Ypres. Home to some of the most brutal conflicts of modern history. Visit the battlefield where Wellington defeated Napoleon at Waterloo, the towns and frontlines of WWI and WWII as well as the museums and memorials that honour the dead by keeping their stories alive.
In Flanders Fields Museum- This outstanding museum aims to preserve our connection with World War I through character-led experience and the story of the land. Exhibitions blend interactive installations with relics allowing students to explore history on a peer-related level. A permanent exhibit traces the invasion of Belgium with educational programs to delve deeper into the war past. (Ypres)
Yorkshire Trench and Dugout- This British trench wasn’t discovered until 1992 by a group of archaeologists who went on to excavate tunneled dugouts and soldier remains. One of the few sites with original trenches on the Ypres Salient, the location exhibits very narrow networks with recreated fire steps and loopholes. Students can get a real sense of the space the soldiers occupied. (Ypres)
Menin Gate and The Last Post Ceremony-This moving tribute to the courage and sacrifice of those who fell defending their town is an imperative experience for students connecting with WWI. Each night at 8pm the traffic stops around the Menin Gate memorial – six buglers from the fire brigade play the Last Post, Reveille and silence is upheld. (Ypres)
The Platoon Experience: Go back in history with an unforgettable experience walking in the footsteps of the New Zealand Soldiers who fought in the war in 1917. Your students will be clothed, equipped and organised as a WW1 platoon, and then you take the journey on former railway road between Zonnebeke and Tyne Cot cemetery. The experience includes a Tommy Tucker lunch and a professional guide with exceptional New Zealand history knowledge.
