Menin Gate

I was here twice in one day, on a bus tour from brussels. Once around lunch, and then once at 7pm to stay for the 8pm last post ceremony. -Its a large "Gate" building, the functions as a road as well except at 8pm, when police close the road for the last post ceremony. The sidewalk is also roped off, you cannot cross this gate into or out of city between 7:50pm-8:20pm, by foot or car. -You can walk up the steps in the middle to the upper parts on either side, its more walls of names. -You can participate in the last post Ceremony if you have a poppy wreath similar to theirs. You can bring from home, or Buy a wreath at the "Info shop" across the road from the gate, inside the city. The man running the ceremony said they never turn away someone that wants to participate. -The last post ceremony gets busy, we arrived 1 hour before to be sure we got front row, and we did, but it does get busy. The ceremony itself is about 10min long, with a short trumpet call, then a short speech, then people walk up and put wreaths, and then trumpets again, and its over. The guide said sometimes there is more people putting wreaths, sometimes there is more speeches, sometimes more music performances, so it could take longer sometimes. Overall it was a nice memorial to the fallen soldiers

A sombre place - 'a First World War memorial in Ypres, Belgium, dedicated to the missing British and Commonwealth soldiers who have no known grave in the Ypres Salient, with their names engraved on the walls of the memorial.' - I felt choked up approaching this place remembering my relatives that served here including my grandfather wounded at Passchendaele. We also saw groups of school kids, including some Indian students, and their teacher and a male and female student carried a wreath to lay remembering Indians who served as part of the British Empire.

The daily remembrance service is staffed by various armed forces, affiliates, clubs, groups, and personnel each evening at 8pm. A very moving and touching service happens rain or shine and is there to remember all those lost in conflict. Lest we forget. The names of the fallen are engraved on tablets that adorn the walls of the gate itself. There is a very beautiful garden with flowers and trees just up and adjacent to the gate that is well worth a visit too.

Have visited a few times before. Last time (2024) it was closed for restoration, all done now and looking great. There’s an office on site where they will help you locate the name of a lost family member. (Don’t try to read all the names or you’ll never find the one you want). If your schedule allows, stay for the Last Post ceremony, done every day. Right in the town centre of Ypres, a beautiful place to visit.

Must visit if you are in the area. Visited 2 evenings in a row for the last post ceremony. Very emotional and a sombre occasion. Called into the CWGC shop across the road too

The gate is a large memorial to the British Empire and Dominions troops that were killed in the Great War. It was built in the 1920s and has the names of 54,000 allied servicemen who lost their lives but have no known grave, inscribed on panels inside the building. It is sited on the road that the troops used to march along to reach the nearby Ypres salient, scene of fighting for pretty much the entire war. It is also where the famous Last Post ceremony takes place. We read the CWGC information boards and saw the information on the hill next to the gate and then we walked through the galleries with the names of the fallen before joining the crowds to listen to the ceremony. I was surprised at how busy it was and the ceremony itself lasted about 15 minutes but the colonnade was full 45 minutes before it started. It was a lovely ceremony with the Last Post and then two songs sung by St Anthony's Catholic Girl School from Market Weighton.

This is a must go to see, and listen to the sound of last post played by buglers of the fire service. A sombre moment, knowing that all the names carved out on the walls, were of men whose bodies were never found, and remain scattered under Flanders fields. Heartbreakingly sad to think of.

Visited around 7.40pm to hear the Last Post at 8pm , which happened every day. it was already very busy. Great to experience, but get there early if your on the shorter side (like myself!) and would like to also see what was happening.

This is a truly unforgettable experience. Buglers from the Last Post Association have been performing the Last Post ceremony every night at 8pm since the monument was built in 1927 (save the WWII occupation). * The ceremony starts promptly at 8pm. If it's a busy day (Friday, Saturday, or summer) I recommend getting there at 7 if you want a good view * It's woth it to take some time to tour the gate afterward - you'll be humbled by the sheer number of soldiers who were killed in WWI whose remains were never found.

This landmark is powerfully symbolic and a must-see if in Ieper. Inside the cylindrical passage are stone panels inscribed with the names of missing soldiers who died during nearby engagements but whose bodies were never found. The highlight of this site of course is the moving Last Post ceremony that honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice in battles near Ieper. The buglers create a solemn atmosphere and the ceremonial speeches, for the most part given in English, are quite appropriate. It is an emotional event and should not be missed, particularly for those who have a personal connection of some sort with loved ones or relatives who might have been part of the battles around Ieper. Get there early for the 8 PM ceremony as it can be very crowded.

Beautiful monument to British and Commonwealth soldiers lost in WWI. If you have a chance to attend the 8pm ceremony called Last Post, definitely worth seeing. It has been continuously done since 1928!

Visiting the Menenpoort was a powerful and moving experience during my trip to Ieper. It's difficult to imagine the sheer number of people that died in the battlefields of Belgium, and seeing the huge lists of names on the gate made me shudder. People from all over the World gave their lives for the cause. Was the cause worth it? That's up for discussion, but the commitment of the soldiers is not. They died for what they believed was the right thing, and they are remembered forever at this excellent memorial.

The Menin Gate was built to commemorate the soldiers who passed through the original gate on their way to the front lines and whose bodies have no known resting place. Over 70,000 names are here.... http://www.cwgc.org

I visited the menin gate on a trip to visit some of the battle field sites of the 1st world war. As a former serviceman myself I was over whelmed with emotion when attending the ceremony which takes place every evening. It brings home the sacrifice made by so many young men when you see all the names inscribed on the Walls. God bless them all.

Amazing place. Every evening, at 8 pm, the Last Post is played to commemorate those who lost their lives. A must do for every one!

This is a special place were dignity and reflection help put life into perspective. The area is steeped in history and lovingly restored. And the people of this beautiful place hold a vigil every single night to honour fallen allies. We could learn a lot from the respect these people have for generations gone by. It will move you, it will shame you but it will never be forgotten by you. Visit with respect, it's not just for football patriots it for real PATRIOTS.

i was lucky enough to be here when they had a parade on to remember those who had dies. it is an amazing place.