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World War I is still felt in the landscape of Ypres and the Westhoek.
On Foot
Entry points of the Ypres Salient
The Western Front Way - Via Sacra
The Western Front Way (1000 km hiking trail) follows the front line of World War I from Nieuwpoort on the Belgian coast to Pfetterhouse on the French-Swiss border. The first 95 km of the route runs on Flemish soil and connects Nieuwpoort, Diksmuide and Ypres.
Since spring 2022, there is also an additional loop "The Road to Passchendaele.
This walking route is a statement for peace and cooperation between the United Kingdom and Belgium. The inspiration for 'The Western Front Way' comes from a letter home from a young British soldier, who described his hopes for peace after the war as follows: 'When peace comes, our government might combine with the French government to make one long avenue between the lines from Voges to the sea....' 2nd LT Alexander Gillespie died a few days later during the Battle of Loos.
The first part of the route, from Nieuwpoort to Albert in De Somme, can be downloaded for free at www.thewesternfrontway.com. Signage has already been placed on Flemish soil (95 km).
A hiking brochure of this route has been available since 2022.
You can purchase this in the tourism services in Ypres, Diksmuide and Nieuwpoort.
Multi-day hiking
You can also spread the walk between Ypres and Nieuwpoort over several days.
For this purpose a cooperation has been worked out between Ypres, Diksmuide and Nieuwpoort.
There is luggage service at the participating accommodation providers.
By bicycle
You can also explore the story of World War I by bike.
By car: Ypres Salient autoroute
- 70 km
- Starting point: Ypres Station
This car route tells the story of the front around Ypres.
Along the way you will discover the story of the Great War in the Westhoek. Important sights such as Tyne Cot Cemetery, the Student Friedhof in Langemark, the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, Hill 60 and the John McCrae site take you back to the period 1914-1918.
