We visited Flanders Fields.

It’s something I’ve always wanted to see.

We took a little trip to Bruges, Belgium…and saw the Flanders Fields WWI sites on the way back home to Germany.

It was emotional to see all the monuments and memorials to the Commonwealth soldiers.

The “Brooding Soldier” statue by Frederick Chapman Clemesha in the St. Julien Memorial was poignant and much taller than I expected.

We enjoyed the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917.

Open from Monday to Sunday, from 9:00 to 18:00. Last admission at 16:30. A museum visit lasts approximately two hours.

Adults: €6,5 or €10,5 with audioguide
Students: €4 or €7 with audioguide
Under 7 FREE

I read that it was a fun and interactive museum, but we were really blown away by how well put-together it is. We didn’t bother to get audio-guides. The plaques on each display were in English and we read every single one.

The kids loved the interactive exhibits, trying on body armor and helmets, gas masks, and cloaks.

The kids were excited to see a stuffed messenger pigeon like Cher Ami.

Cher Ami was a registered Black Check Cock carrier pigeon, one of 600 birds owned and flown by the U.S. Army Signal Corps in France during World War I. Download the Cher Ami real story here.

The exhibits were really amazing.

We really experienced history in the replicated dugout and trenches.

There was a gorgeous park with lots of walking trails. We had a picnic lunch by the pond.

The Menin Gate was breathtaking.

I really wanted to see the Essex Farm Cemetery and Memorials.

John McCrae wrote the poem In Flanders Fields.

It was memorable to see all these World War I sites and I’m so glad the kids and I got to experience this history.

Also, here’s my World War I Unit Study.

Learn about WWI, Armistice Day, Remembrance Day, and Veterans Day

Books:

DK Eyewitness Books: World War I by Simon Adams
World War I for Kids: A History with 21 Activities by R. Kent Rasmussen
The War to End All Wars: World War I by Russell Freedman
Treaties, Trenches, Mud, and Blood by Nathan Hale
War Horse by Michael Morpurgo
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
Silver Threads by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
War Game: Village Green to No-Man’s-Land by Michael Foreman
Truce by Jim Murphy
Christmas in the Trenches by John McCutcheon
Shooting at the Stars: The Christmas Truce of 1914 by John Hendrix
Silent Night: The Story of the World War I Christmas Truce by Stanley Weintraub
Christmas Truce: A True Story of World War 1 by Aaron Shepard
Eleventh Month, Eleventh Day, Eleventh Hour: Armistice Day, 1918 World War I and Its Violent Climax by Joseph E. Persico
Archie’s War by Marcia Williams
A Brave Soldier by Nicolas Debon
Rags: Hero Dog of WWI: A True Story by Margot Theis Raven
Stubby the War Dog: The True Story of World War I’s Bravest Dog by Ann Bausum
Stubby the Dog Soldier: World War I Hero by Blake Hoena
In Flanders Fields: The Story of the Poem by John McCrae by Linda Granfield
The Poppy Lady: Moina Belle Michael and Her Tribute to Veterans by Barbara Walsh
Where Poppies Grow: A World War I Companion by Linda Granfield
A Poppy Is to Remember by Heather Patterson
Remembrance Poems & Readings: Reflection on Matters of War & Peace by David Roberts
Come On In, America: The United States in World War I by Linda Barrett Osborne
The Wall by Eve Bunting
America’s White Table by Margot Theis Raven

Movies:

Activities and Printables:

Activity Village Remembrance Day
51 Remembrance Day Poppy Craft Ideas from Everything Mom
French Remembrance Day Activities by For French Immersion
Remembrance Day from DLTK
51 Remembrance Day Poppy Craft Ideasfrom Everything Mom
WWI from BBC
History of Veterans Day from History Channel
Lemon Poppy Sugar Cookies from The Endless Meal

Learn about American Memorial Day:

- - How to Memorial Day
  - Don’t say Thanks for Service
  - FREE Notebooking Pages
  - ABC Teach – Free Memorial Day printables
  - Home of Heroes – Free Medal of Honor Coloring Book printables
  - Making Learning Fun – Memorial Day activity pages
  - Raising Our Kids – Memorial Day coloring pages
  - Homeschool Helper Online – Memorial Day resources
  - The Homeschool Mom – Memorial Lesson Plans
  - Homeschool Creations – Memorial Day Printables
  - Memorial Day Preschool Cutting Practice from 3 Boys and a Dog
  - How to Make a DIY Patriotic T-Shirt from Crafty Mama in ME
  - 10 Cool Family Tents for Camping from FrogMom
  - Memorial Day – A Day to Remember from Tales of Education at Home
  - F is for Flag Handwriting Letter Mazes from Simple Fun for Kids
  - Memorial Day Penmanship Worksheet from Schooling a Monkey
  - Memorial Day Word Search from Something 2 Offer
  - Learning With My Boys – Memorial Day unit study
  - Educents Memorial Day Activity Pack

Linking up: Travel Loving Family, Barbie Swihart, Modest Mom, Curly Crafty Mom, Strangers & Pilgrims on Earth, Life of Faith, B Loved Boston, Holley Gerth, Donna Reidland, Wandermust Family, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Blogghetti, A Fresh Start, Marilyns Treats, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Wandermum, Southern Beauty Guide, Mummascribbles, MaryAndering Creatively, Jaime Wiebel, Simple Life of a Fire Wife, My Husband Has Too Many Hobbies, LouLou Girls, April JHarris, Teaching what is Good, Wise Woman, Life Beyond the Kitchen, A Bountiful Love, Coffee with us 3, Life with Lorelai, What a Wonderful World, Sincerely Paula, Missional Women, Easy Peasy Pleasy, Happy and Blessed Home, The Answer is Chocolate, The Mommyhood Moments, Joyful Homemaking, Creative K Kids, Our Three Peas, Education Possible, My Learning Table, Organized 31, Katherine’s Corner, Lyli Dunbar, Crystal T Waddell, Arabah Joy, Quietly Reminded, Debbie Kitterman, Mommynificent, Plunge Deep Climb Steep, Brenda Bradford Dottinger, Pat and Candy, Becoming Press, T Suzanne Eller, Being a Wordsmith, Our Mini Family,

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Comments

Liz says

July 3, 2017 at 2:45 pm

It is way more memorable to study history where it happened! Thanks for sharing these great photos! I miss our time in Europe!

Sarah Stockley says

July 3, 2017 at 2:51 pm

I visited these sites on a school trip when I was 14 – thank you for bringing back memories. It was such an interesting trip. Sarah #MondayEscapes

Esther says

July 3, 2017 at 3:11 pm

Can you believe I live so close to Flanders (and go there all the time) yet have not visited one of the Great War memorials!! It’s SOOOO on my list!!
#MondayEscapes

April says

July 3, 2017 at 5:26 pm

Just reading mention of the gas attacks makes me shudder. So horrific. We are military too, but we have never been stationed in Europe. This looks exciting!

Wandermust mummy says

July 3, 2017 at 8:04 pm

What an emotional trip. Lovely way of teaching The past

#fearlessfamtrav

naomi says

July 5, 2017 at 9:46 am

wow, I bet the atmosphere was completely unique. I love those ideas for the history lessons, thanks for those. #twinklytuesday

Anita Ojeda says

July 5, 2017 at 8:35 pm

What a beautiful place! My husband hates museums, but my daughters and I sure enjoy them :). I read The Guns of August last year, and I learned so very much about World War I. Thank you for bringing it visually to life!

- Jennifer says
  
  July 7, 2017 at 2:11 pm
  
  I’ll have to add that book to my reading list! Thanks!
  
Hilary says

July 6, 2017 at 5:47 pm

I was disappointed to mis out on a visit to Flanders when we visited Belgium last year. It looks like an incredibly moving and valuable experience. #citytripping

Helena says

July 6, 2017 at 6:38 pm

My husband would love to see this area and if my girl study history then it sounds like a great place to visit. #MondayEscapes

Vanessa Brune says

July 8, 2017 at 11:56 am

Flanders really has so much history to learn more about and how great is it that they portray it in a fun way for kids to do so?!

Anisa says

July 9, 2017 at 12:44 am

They really did do a good job with the museum! I like that they have interactive exhibits and recreating the bunkers. What a great way for kids to learn about history. Thanks for sharing on #TheWeeklyPostcard.

Elizabeth (Wander Mum) says

July 9, 2017 at 9:31 pm

Such and immersive experience. We went when my daughter was s bit too young to understand. The Menin Gate is incredibly moving. We found my husband’s great-grandfather’s grave. We’ll have to go back when the kids are older. The memorial museum looks excellent. Thanks for linking #citytripping

Mary Hill says

July 10, 2017 at 2:14 pm

I hope I can afford a visit to Europe one day. I love the history of these important sites and what the mean to our country. Thanks for sharing on the #LMMLinkup this week.

Lisa (Travel Loving Family) & Trips100 Editor says

July 13, 2017 at 12:50 am

This must have been the most interesting and emotional history lesson your kids have ever had. I’m never quite sure how to act when I go to places like this, it messed me up for example seeing so many people taking happy, smiley photos whilst at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii. Thanks for sharing your post on #MondayEscapes

Tina at Mommynificent says

July 13, 2017 at 5:47 am

We just finished a similar “history trip” but ours was to Boston. Thanks for linking up at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com!
Tina

Flanders WWI Sites