The Great War Centenary in

Project office

The Great War Centenary (2014-18)

The Government of Flanders Boudewijnlaan 30 bus 80 | 1000 Brussel | T. +32 (0)2 553 60 63 | F. +32 (0)2 553 60 37 The Great War Centenary http://iv.vlaanderen.be/2014-18 | [email protected] The information contained in this brochure accurately reflects the current state of affairs in November 2011. For additional information, please contact the Great War Centenary Project Office or, alternatively, consult the project’s website. Contact details may be found on the back cover of this brochure. The Great War Centenary in Flanders

• Voorwoord minister –president Kris Peeters Dear Reader, Beste lezer,

The First World War, also known as ‘The Great War’, was the first international conflict on a global scale. Millions of soldiers and civilians from no less than De Eerste Wereldoorlog, ook wel “de Groote Oorlog” genaamd, was het eerste internationale conflict op50 wereldschaal. countries lost Miljoenen their lives. soldaten All enover burgers the world uit niet ‘Flanders minder dan Fields’ 50 landen has lietencome er to het be leven . ‘Flaassociatednders Fields’ with is wereldwijd unprecedented een synoniem human geworden suffering voor and ongekend material menselijk destruction. lijden en materiële vernielingIn the past . hundred years these events have had a major influence on our society. DToday,eze gebeurtenissen the victims hebben of this in war de afgelopen still deserve 100 jaar to beeen commemorated fundamentele invloed and gehadhonoured. op de maatschappij en de slachtoffers van deze oorlog verdienen ook vandaag nog een waardige That is why the Government of Flanders has started preparing the nagedachtenis. commemoration of the First World War. This commemoration will take place Daarombetween is de 2014 Vlaamse and r2018egering. It gestart is our met explicit de voorbereiding ambition tovan establish de herdenking a humanitarian van de Eerste Wereldoorlogand internationally. Die herdenking oriented zal in project, de periode which 2014 we-2018 wish plaatsvinden to associate. Wij with hebben the de peace expliciete ambitietheme, om ‘No een More human War’,itair enin internationaala sustainable gericht manner. project op te zetten en dit duurzaam te verbinden met het vredesthema “nooit meer oorlog”. We want to raise awareness amongst the present and future generations about Wijsuch willen themes de huidige as tolerance en toekoms andtige international generaties bewust understanding. maken en sensibiliseren After all, rondthese thema ’s zoals verdraagzaamheid en internationale verstandhouding, die essentiële bouwstenen zijn voor een open themes constitute the cornerstones of an open and tolerant society. en tolerante samenleving. This is the only way that we can start to understand history and draw lessons Alleen op die manier kunnen we het verleden een plaats geven in onze geschiedenis en er lessen uit trekkenfrom it voor for dethe toekomst future..

Kris Peeters Kris Peeters MinisterMinister-President-president van deof Vlaamsethe Government regering en of Vlaams Flanders, minister Flemish van Economie, Minister Buitenlands for beleid, LandbouwEconomy, en Foreign Plattelandsbeleid Policy, Agriculture and Rural Policy

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• Dear Reader,

One of the greatest conflicts in the history of mankind unfolded between the summer of 1914 and the autumn of 1918. Flanders too became a battlefield, for four long years. Today the witnesses of this warfare still bear silent testimony to these horrific events in our landscape, in our immovable heritage and in our culture. The Great War continues to live on in our collective memory. One hundred years later we wish to commemorate the victims of this war and condemn senseless war violence. This commemoration is an excellent opportunity to preserve our war heritage in a sustainable manner for generations to come and to reflect on war and peace. As coordinator of ‘The Great War Centenary (2014-18)’ I have the pleasure of introducing the Government of Flanders’ project for the commemoration of the centenary of the First World War. This brochure explains the project’s vision and provides an overview of the activities that have been planned in the frame of the commemoration. The project is a unique spearhead in the Government of Flanders’ events policy for the next years. Our aim is to touch hearts and elicit emotions. We wish to show this war to people so that they can understand it. To commemorate those who died, so those who commemorate them may learn from it.

Geert Bourgeois Vice-Minister-President of the Government of Flanders, Flemish Minister for Public Governance, Local and Provincial Government, Civic Integration, Tourism and the Vlaamse Rand

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The Great War Centenary in Flanders

The project ‘The Great War Centenary Another objective is to create amongst (2014-18)’ aims to promote Flanders’ the present and future generations in visibility across the international Flanders an awareness of themes such arena during the period 2014-2018 as tolerance, intercultural dialogue, and and thereafter, by positioning this international understanding, this with commemoration as a great yet serene a view to fostering an open and tolerant occasion, within Flanders itself but society and an active international likewise around the world. orientation. Finally, there is also the further objective to considerably expand The programme of commemorative upon the Peace Tourism theme in (West) activities of the Centenary of the First Flanders. ■ World War is meant to project the name ‘Flanders’ upon a broader international canvass and generate an enduring association with the theme of peace.

7 The Great War Centenary ■ The project office

The Government of Flanders The project office has been assigned has established ‘The Great War the following international tasks: Centenary (2014-18)’ project office. The project office serves as a • establishing an inventory of the one-stop shop for the Government international commemoration of Flanders in the preparation, ceremonies which will be coordination and follow-up of the organised between 2014 and project. The project office operates at 2018, in Flanders and abroad; three levels. • establishing an inventory of the plans of foreign authorities to invest in the commemorative monuments of Flanders Fields; • formulating proposals for the organisation of international commemorations in Flanders in 2014-18. ■ The central project group

At Flemish level the project office The project office will carry out the A central project group has also been has the following tasks: following tasks at local level: established. This working group constitutes the platform for the • the operational management of • targeted communication about coordination of and information the central wwi project group; the project to all interested exchange about the Government partners in Flanders; • reporting and monitoring on the of Flanders’ activities in the frame project’s progress; • the identification of stakeholders of the commemoration project. In which may contribute to the addition, it serves as an advisory • establishing an inventory of the commemoration project. body for the Government of Government of Flanders’ projects Flanders. The central project group and initiatives. is made up of representatives of the Government of Flanders and is chaired by the Secretary General of the Flemish Department of Foreign Affairs. ■

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International context

The 2007 study conducted by the These discussions highlighted a very Flemish Foreign Policy Research Centre lively interest in this commemorative shows that soldiers from no fewer project. Two themes were discussed: than 50 modern-day nations joined the planned national commemorative the military action in the Westhoek initiatives and the development of an (Flanders Fields). Not surprising then, international events calendar, on the a lot of these nations are now in the one hand, and the ’Flanders Fields process of preparing their own national Declaration’, on the other. commemoration agenda. Minister-President Kris Peeters has In the preparation of these events, proposed that this declaration may be timely coordination and information signed in November 2012. ■ exchange are essential elements. Meanwhile, the first preparations have already been made. Bilateral agreements have been concluded with New Zealand and for example.

In 2010 and 2011 the Flemish Department of Foreign Affairs has organised joint consultations on the commemoration with the diplomatic representatives of thirteen countries: Australia, Canada, Germany, , Ireland, India, Italy, Morocco, New Zealand, Poland, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and South Africa.

Menin Gate, 11 The Great War Centenary

The Flanders Fields Declaration

On 11 November 2008, during the • Scientific research official commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the Armistice in Ypres, To the present day, historical research Minister-President Kris Peeters called has almost exclusively focused on the for the drafting of an international history of the battlefields and this, declaration. This declaration has moreover, from a strongly Eurocentric received the working title ‘Flanders perspective. What is needed is an Fields Declaration’. It is the integrated historical account that re- Government of Flanders’ intention to examines ww i from west to east, using structurally anchor the commemoration a holistic approach. of the ‘Great War’ in this declaration. Geographically, the emphasis is on the • Raising awareness and remembrance more than 50 nations that dispatched education soldiers to fight in Flanders Fields. The lessons to be learned from ww i The declaration will be structured constitute an important source of around the following dimensions: information and inspiration towards the promotion of peace and mutual • Enduring remembrance understanding that transcends ethnic, religious, and political boundaries. ww i lives on in the collective memory In the process, our focus needs to be of modern states in various ways. The directed towards both the public at angle varies from the commemoration large and the younger generations. of the military victory to the role that The already acquired expertise of the war can play as a source of inspiration Special Committee for Remembrance for peace and modern conflict Education, as active within the non- management. profit organisation ‘Dossin Barracks’ (Dossinkazerne), may prove especially useful to this end. ■

Soldier at the Menin Gate, Ypres 13 The Great War Centenary

Friends of Flanders Fields

In addition to the signing of the The Government of Flanders has ‘Flanders Fields Declaration’ in also expressed its desire to build 2012 the Government of Flanders commemorative gardens in symbolically will also organise an International important locations, in consultation Peace Symposium in November with its foreign partners, between 2013, to which the laureates of the 2014 and 2018. These commemorative Nobel Peace Prize will be invited. gardens will be landscaped using soil The symposium will build on the from Flanders Fields: this allows us to Flanders Fields Declaration to ensure honour and commemorate anyone who that the commemorative project is fought and died during this war. In internationally embedded. Moreover addition the commemorative gardens the symposium offers a unique will go on to symbolise hope, peace opportunity to send out a peace and reconciliation, in view of a better message to the world on the eve of the future. ■ commemoration.

The South African Nobel Peace Prize winners, Desmond Tutu and Frederik Willem de Klerk, have already agreed to take part in the symposium.

Tyne Cot Cemetery, () 15 The Great War Centenary

Flemish action plan

Based on the policy documents of The action plan is a dynamic plan, the Government of Flanders and a which will be further developed with resolution by the Flemish Parliament the various policy areas in order to the project office has drawn up an obtain a flexible working tool. It will action plan. The action plan is an be used for the annual reporting to the internal working document which Government of Flanders. ■ provides an overview of the various actions per policy area. The action plan focuses on foreign policy, tourism, heritage, education, communication and scientific research. Actions will be associated with each of the objectives.

17 The Great War Centenary Tourism

■ Investments

The First World War has left a great many visible scars in the landscape. Aside from the numerous military cemeteries, graveyards and war memorials, there is a host of other landmarks to remind people of the events that happened during ww i. For that reason, Flanders considers it important that relics of the war be preserved in a dignified manner and suitably maintained. To achieve that aim, investments are made to assist in the renovation, restoration, and maintenance of ww i sites.

Further efforts are devoted to facilitating access to such sites, unlocking them to visitors from home and abroad. This has created a more focused attention on improving both visitor infrastructures and the accessibility of commemorative sites.

In the frame of this investment initiative, Geert Bourgeois, Flemish Minister for Tourism, introduced a new instrument, called the ‘Great War Centenary Impulse Programme’. ■ Events

The project’s events policy will be • a thematic allocation, whereby made up of various phases. The focus relevant historical events are can change every year, highlighting coupled to specific themes, and, different aspects. As a result the • the target groups, e.g., senior public will always have a more citizens, students, out-of-school structured overview at its disposal youth groups, local and foreign of the many events that can be visitors. expected. At the same time this may also encourage visitors to attend In the first phase, Minister Geert other, future events. Bourgeois has earmarked a budget of five million euros out of the Tourism In the first phase of the development budget for the period 2014-2015. of the events policy, the aim is to This budget will be used to support build a structure that allows a well- a series of international top-tier ordered provision. events and Flemish events, which will promote the peace message. In the process, attention will be paid They will also emphasise the to the following parameters: Tourism+ dimension. In so doing the Government of Flanders invests • a historical-chronological time in the preservation and upgrading line, e.g., the drawing up of lists of war heritage as a natural pole of relevant historical events and of attraction for peace tourism, dates; focussing on the meaning of and • a geographic allocation, whereby reflection on war and peace. ■ relevant historical events are linked to specific locations;

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The Great War Centenary Impulse Programme - Tourism+

With the Great War Centenary in Following a very thorough screening mind, the Flemish Minister for process and scoring of the 69 tenders Tourism, Geert Bourgeois, intends to submitted, the 44 selected projects pay very special attention to ensuring eligible for subsidies were published in that ww i sites provide a qualitative December 2010. experience, as well as facilitate access from a recreational tourism angle. The Of these 44 projects, 5 strategic Great War Centenary is to evolve into projects were approved and publicised: an exceptional occasion destined to the In Flanders Fields Museum and place Flanders on the map as a ww i the opening up of the Belfry Tower destination. Although the year 2014 in Ypres, the Museum Garden and still seems far off, it is imperative ‘legacy’ at the Memorial Museum already today that projects be prepared Passchendaele 1917 in Zonnebeke, and investments made in the kind of ‘100 jaar achter het front infrastructure that will turn the 2014- - the Poperinge Centenary Behind 2018 commemorative period into a the Front Line’ with the Lijssenthoek successful world event. Cemetery and the Talbot House in Poperinge, the modernisation of the The Minister has earmarked fifteen Yser Tower Museum and the Yser million euros for these recreational Tower site in , and a new tourism projects. With these funds visitor centre at the lock complex at the he wishes to support projects all over Ganzepoot in Nieuwpoort. ■ Flanders, offering an attractive and qualitative integrated tourism product. Coordination: The Tourism Flanders The Flemish invitation for tenderers to Brussels Agency submit their project proposals within the context of the Great War Centenary Impulse Fund was issued in June 2010. This project call elicited a very enthusiastic response from all across Flanders. Direction signs along bicycle routes in the Westhoek (Flanders Fields) 21 The Great War Centenary

New In Flanders Fields Museum and the opening up of the Belfry Tower – Ypres

Theme: man and landscape

• Renovation of the visitor infrastructure • Re-organisation of the museum: new presentation with the introduction of the ww i landscape as final witness • Outfitting of the Belfry Tower

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‘100 jaar Poperinge achter het front’: Lijssenthoek Cemetery, Talbot House, and Town Hall site

Theme: life and death – the medical story

• Interpretation centre at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery • Improved access to Talbot House and the garden • Refurbishment of the town hall site: death cells and execution post

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The legacy of Passchendaele – Zonnebeke

Theme: the military story

• Construction of a museum garden • Three walking routes • Opening up of war sites: bunkers, ‘Passchendaele Memorial Park’, unique relics of war • Extension of the visitor infrastructure

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Modernisation of the Yser Tower site and the Yser Tower Museum – Diksmuide

Theme: the ‘Frontbeweging – Front Movement’ and the peace message ‘No more war!’

• Updating of the permanent presentation with emphasis on the Belgian-German front and Flemish emancipation • Visitor reception centre • Function of the square around the new pavilion • Extra buffering for coaches • Bicycling and walking paths and optimisation of existing routes

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Visitor centre De Ganzepoot – Nieuwpoort

Theme: the flooding of the Yser Plains

• Construction of a visitor centre • Upgrade of the ‘Ganzepoot – Goosefoot’ site with the Albert i monument • The story of the flooding and the role played by the lock complex

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Heritage of the Great War

The ‘Heritage of the Great War’ project In order to embed the Great War’s occupies a key position within the heritage in a sustainable and commemoration of the First World permanent manner we have developed War Centenary. Because the last a four-track strategy: eyewitnesses have now all died, this • The first track concerns research heritage constitutes our last link into the architectural, landscape, between past and present. and archaeological ww i heritage as a scientific basis for the next tracks. Tangible traces, such as military cemeteries, war memorials and • The second track deals with the (underground) defences can still be traditional protection and spatial found all across Flanders. But the integration of a selection of ww i landscape is the most important last heritage. witness, even more so than all these • The third track comprises a material relics. This landscape did, management vision in terms of in effect, create the conditions and the restoration, maintenance and circumstances, wherein the First opening up of ww i heritage. World War’s savage combat raged. • The fourth track, finally, underscores Therefore, major landscape units such the importance of ww i heritage by as battlefields, sight lines, defence lines, pursuing unesco World Heritage and landscapes where (archaeological) recognition for the most important relics may be found in mutual relics. coherence, receive great attention in this heritage project. The synergy of these four tracks (research, protection, management, and The project encompasses the whole of recognition) passes on the heritage of Flanders, but its point of gravity, for the First World War under the best of obvious reasons, is to be found in the circumstances to future generations. ■ Westhoek region.

German military cemetery, 33 The Great War Centenary ww i Heritage Inventory

In the frame of the first track (research) The project aims to determine of the Heritage of the Great War • what landscapes are still bearing project the Flanders Heritage Agency testimony to the war landscape and will establish an inventory of the the events from the 1914-1918 material witnesses of the First World period; War in the front line area, from Nieuwpoort to . Although the • what kinds of valuable sections of architectural heritage there has been land can be demarcated as heritage inventoried, this is less the case for the landscape; war landscape and the archaeological • how these landscapes can be remains in it. Yet, these are the last translated in spatial terms. witnesses to one of the most dramatic periods in history. In this process, the front lines and the expanse of the devastated regions, from Nieuwpoort to Mesen, form the 560 km² study target.

At the moment, actual inventorisation work is being conducted, consisting of partial research of the war landscape and a valuation study of ww i archaeological remains. The research methodology The inventorisation project is to be encompasses a combination of completed in 2011 in order that the timing for the protection of the First • the thorough analysis of trench World War heritage may be met. ■ maps from 1914-1918 in gis (geographic information system); The partners of this study are: • the comparison with present-day In Flanders Fields Museum – Province gis layers; of – University of Ghent – Flanders Heritage Agency • the development of the historical knowledge of the war landscape; • site visits; • archaeological valuation study based on findings from test trenches.

Site Bayernwald, German ww i trench Wijtschate () 35 The Great War Centenary

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Remembrance Park 2014-18

In the frame of the third track rural planning and development from (management) of the Heritage of the the University of Ghent. Great War project one of the projects that is being developed is that of the Based on a very thorough analysis Remembrance Park 2014-18. The aim of the historic and the existing of this project is to realize a master plan context they have developed a simple for an integrated and comprehensive yet powerful overarching concept. cultural-tourism project for the Important landscape sites will be former frontline in the Westhoek. The consolidated and incorporated in a Remembrance Park 2014-18 wishes network thus contributing to the to highlight the ww i landscape as a narration of the many storylines about determining and connective factor so the relationship between the landscape that both visitors and residents can (re) and the war that unfolded in it. On discover it. these sites, a landscape scenography is generated, with its own unique The winner of the open call, organised style, through limited changes to by the Flemish Government Architect, the landscape, such as the opening the temporary association of companies up of sight lines, the construction Park 14-18, will further elaborate its of pathways, or the erection of winning design in 2011. Park 14-18 is information boxes, offering a greater a temporary association of companies insight and better experience of the war formed by the team Geurst & Schulze in relation to the landscape. architects located in The Hague (nl) and Lodewijk Baljon landscape The approach is very realistic and architects in Amsterdam (nl), assisted takes into account the spatial planning by scenographer Terenja van Dijk from context, the existing infrastructure, Antwerp, urban planner Jan de Graaf the differentiation between the various from The Hague (nl), anthropologist locations, and the expectations of all Johan Meire from Halle, and Pieter parties involved. ■ Uyttenhove, professor of town and

Site of French military cemetery on the , draft 39 The Great War Centenary

unesco World Heritage

As the fourth track (recognition) To explain and underscore the universal of the Heritage of the Great War value of the unesco candidacy, project, Flanders wishes to nominate Flanders has chosen to develop the testimonials of the First World this project in collaboration with War as unesco World Heritage. The Wallonia and France in the frame of a commemorative and remembrance multinational dossier (leaving other landscape which has been created on countries the option of joining at a later the ww i battlefields is a unique and date). Initiatives will also be set up to valuable testimony. inform the (inter)national community, to raise awareness and to ensure their This ww i remembrance landscape is endorsement of this candidacy. the consequence of an unprecedented global conflict, which completely This unesco candidacy is the final redressed world relations. It was created phase of an integrated and purposefully and is shared by an international conducted heritage strategy of community across five continents, and research, protection and management, embodies a universal call for long- which should realise an enduring and lasting peace. sustainable anchoring of First World War heritage. ■

View on the Kemmelberg, Kemmel (Heuvelland) 41 The Great War Centenary

Moveable and intangible heritage

The commemoration initiatives relating The Flemish Interface Centre for to moveable and intangible heritage Cultural Heritage (faro) is organising will be closely monitored by the a project around daily life in 1913 (on Department of Culture, Youth, Sport the eve of the outbreak of the War). and Media and the Agency for Arts and On the basis of the cultural heritage, Heritage. other initiatives can also be developed that place the First World War inside a A number of important recognised broader perspective and do not confine museums, such as the In Flanders themselves to just the front lines. Fields Museum in Ypres, the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 in The cultural heritage covenants Zonnebeke, the Talbot House in with individual municipalities or Poperinge, and the Yser Tower, as the intermunicipal partnerships can Memorial of the constitute an excellent medium for in Diksmuide, are located in the front opening up existing cultural heritage line area. within the context of the centenary commemoration of the First World War. Recently, the Centre for Flemish Architectural Archives, in collaboration The Last Post Association and the City with the province of West Flanders of Ypres have submitted an application and the Flemish Community, started a to the Flemish authorities to have project that, based on archival research, the Last Post Ceremony, which takes aims at more clearly mapping out and place daily under the Menin Gate in disseminating information on the Ypres, included in unesco’s list of reconstruction works in the Westhoek the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. ■

The Last Post at the Menin Gate, Ypres 43 The Great War Centenary

Education

On 22 April 2009, the Flemish These attainment targets read as Parliament adopted an Act that follows: introduced new attainment targets • the students draw lessons from and developmental objectives at the historical and contemporary primary and secondary education examples of intolerance, racism, and levels. xenophobia Two of these new cross-subject • the students present examples of attainment targets at the secondary the potentially constructive and level are oriented towards the themes destructive role of conflicts. of tolerance and gaining insight into the role of conflicts, hence contributing Within the educational sector, the to what we call ‘peace education’ and Special Committee for Remembrance ‘remembrance education’. Education will assume a key role in the commemoration of the Great War Centenary. ■

Pupils at the Essex Farm Cemetery, Boezinge (Ypres) 45 The Great War Centenary ww i: agriculture and the provision of food supplies

The Agriculture and Fisheries Policy The findings of the scientific study Area, in collaboration with the will be used to initiate a number of Interfaculty Centre for Agrarian History public outreach activities (in the (icag) at the Catholic University of Westhoek and around Flanders), this Leuven (k.u. Leuven), intends to start in collaboration with diverse partners. an innovative research study on the Likewise, a number of concrete end subject of agriculture and the provision products will be achieved, such as of food supplies before, during, and lectures, publications, a biking and shortly after the First World War. walking tour, and educational packages for distribution in secondary schools. ■ Themes in this frame are: the evolution of the agricultural policy during this period and the impact of the war on it (also on the question of the international food situation), the state of the Belgian fishing fleet, the war’s impact on the (farm)landscape and the farmsteads in the front line area, and their reconstruction. Flemish Public Broadcasting Company vrt

In the run-up to 2014, vrt will each Special attention is directed to the year, during the month of November, digital archiving and the release of devote special programming to the historical interviews with war veterans First World War, on radio as well and other direct witnesses. In addition as on tv and online. For instance, to the already recorded interviews, the the ceremonies in commemoration project ‘De Allerlaatste Getuigen - The of Armistice Day will be broadcast Very Last Witnesses’ has been able directly from Ypres. In addition, one to assemble more than one hundred of the channels, canvas will each interviews with centenarians who, as year broadcast two episodes of the children, experienced the First World documentary series ‘Niets is Zwart- War at first hand. Wit – Nothing is Black-White’, wherein different aspects of the First World Also during the period 2014-2018, vrt War will be analysed. Many other will with a generous variety of thematic radio and television programmes also radio and tv programmes pay close intend to provide broad coverage of the attention to the commemoration of commemoration of the First World War. the First World War. As an example, Thus vrt will for example take part in a ten-episode fictional series is to be Parade’s End, a bbc /hbo series, which produced for tv station ‘Een’, entitled takes place during the First World War ‘In Vlaamse Velden – In Flanders and which is for a large part filmed in Fields’. ■ Flanders.

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Local context

The project’s aim is also to organise a First World War heritage. Next to this commemoration of the First World War, the Province will develop a cultural which benefits from the widest possible programme in every commemorative support and which involves launching year, from 2014 until 2018, with Flemish and smaller local initiatives. various events, which will take place Because every village and every city has under the ‘Gone West’ denominator. its history and its link with the Great These programmes will last several War. weeks and will take place during important historical commemorative In almost every Flemish municipality events. where fighting took place, memorials, remembrance sites, and museums Yet, it should not be forgotten that were erected after the War. Also, war battles were likewise fought in other victims lie buried in many municipal provinces, and numerous cities and cemeteries. These localised events municipalities intend to commemorate and the heritage and the memory of their individual histories as they these local occurrences remain just as unfolded during the First World War. relevant and retain their unique value Antwerp, Aarschot, Dendermonde until this very day. and Leuven will all be preparing commemorative programmes. At this time, it is primarily the province The network of Martyr Cities, i.e., of West Flanders that is actively Aarschot, Dendermonde and Leuven, engaged in the preparation of the are preparing a joint programme in centenary commemoration of the collaboration with the Walloon cities of Great War. At provincial level a policy Andenne, Dinant, Sambreville and Visé. steering group has been established These cities will be joining forces to and a programme secretariat has been commemorate the first few days of the set up in collaboration with Westtoer, war in the summer of 1914. with offices in Diksmuide. A budget of five million euros has been earmarked Regional and local stakeholders will also for the cultural-tourism access to contribute to the commemoration. ■

Site Bardelaere, bunker, Lembeke (Kaprijke) 49 The Great War Centenary Colophon

Photography Flanders Heritage, Kris Vandevorst: p. 18, 22, 30, 32, 36-37, 40 Photo archive Flanders: p. 6, 16 Agency Tourism Flanders-Brussels: p. 12, 44 Flemish Department of Foreign Affairs: p. 14, 20 Tourism Ypres, p. 10, 42 Lyssenthoek Military Cemetery: p. 24 Talbot House: p. 25 Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917: p. 26 Yser Tower Museum: p. 28 Geurst and Schulze architects: p. 38 Heritage Day Flanders, p. 48

Translation Government of Flanders - Department of the Services for the General Government Policy

Printing Franky Van Varenberg, Government of Flanders - Digital Printing Office Team

Graphic Design Guy Adam, Government of Flanders - Digital Printing Office Team

Publisher The Government of Flanders - Project Office The Great War Centenary (2014-18)

Catalogue number d/2011/3241/265

Publication November 2011

© Project Office The Great War Centenary (2014-18)

The Great War Centenary in Flanders

Project office

The Great War Centenary (2014-18)

The Government of Flanders Boudewijnlaan 30 bus 80 | 1000 Brussel | Belgium T. +32 (0)2 553 60 63 | F. +32 (0)2 553 60 37 The Great War Centenary http://iv.vlaanderen.be/2014-18 | [email protected]