A History Lesson in Belgium

We were lucky to visit Belgium during the girls' term break and decided to explore the area outside of Bruges and learn about some of the history of the region. We started off with a visit to Ypres, a small city about 50 minutes from Bruges which was the center of a great deal of fighting during World War I. The city now houses the In Flanders Fields Museum, a wonderful museum that " tells the story of the invasion of Belgium and the first months of the mobilisation, the four year trench war in the Westhoek--from the beach of Nieuwpoort to the Leie in Armentieres-, of the end of the war and the permanent remembrance ever since." We found the museum to be very informative and moving, while still being appropriate and engaging for children. Our girls enjoyed the poppy bracelets that you are given when you enter, which you can customize based on your age, sex and nationality. As you walk through the museum, there are multiple kiosks (of varying heights) where you can scan your bracelet and the computer shows you a story that in relevant to you based on how old you are and where you're from. Riley loved reading her bracelet's stories and comparing them to Lyla's stories and even mine and Wayne's. 

In Flanders Field Museum

After a fun morning of learning, we stopped for some lunch and gelato...check out those colors! Then it was off to a quick visit to a cemetery and a trip to the Passchendaele Musuem, which had recreated bunkers and trenches that we could walk through. 

Brightly colored gelato!

Posing in an old uniform with her solider face 

Love the solider face

In the bunkers

Walking through the trenches

The next day we decided to visit the Flanders Field American Cemetery. It was a beautiful place where we enjoyed looking around and taking some pictures of the girls. 

Riley likes to sign the guestbook wherever we go!

Treehuggers

Overall, we found Belgium to be such a relaxing trip where we  learned alot about history without feeling at all rushed. We definitely plan to go back for another visit before we leave Europe! One of the best things about Belgium was just driving around and stopping to explore some of the cemeteries, monuments and museums along the road. What a beautiful country!

A small cemetery we found across from the Hooge Crater