Displaced

In 1914, one and a half million Belgians – around a quarter of the population at the time – fled the violence of the war. It is estimated that 600,000 of these people remained abroad for the duration of the conflict, primarily in France, Britain and the Netherlands. Moreover, thousands were forcibly displaced. Soldiers on both sides evacuated these civilians whose homes had become too dangerous due to the advancing war, and many became 'refugees in their own country'. At the end of the war, they faced a difficult return. Some never returned because they saw no future in their homeland.

This exhibition at the In Flanders Fields Museum tells the story of Belgian refugees during the First World War through personal accounts. These were selected from the museum's collection or material shared by the public. Nine illustrators have brought these hidden stories to life.

Dates

From 4 October 2025 to 14 June 2026:
Open Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (last admission: 5:00 p.m.)
Closed on Mondays

Price

Included in the admission ticket