Waterloo Battlefield

The Waterloo Battlefield experience is truly fantastic and incredibly well-organized. You begin your journey in a superb museum that expertly guides you through the intricate history of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's significant role. The exhibits are exceptionally well-made, enhanced by an engaging audio guide accessible via your phone, providing rich details that truly bring the era to life. I was particularly impressed by the captivating paintings and their accompanying in-depth explanations. From the museum, you can ascend to the iconic Lion's Mound (the "pyramid"). The panoramic view from the top is absolutely breathtaking, offering a clear perspective of the battlefield. There's also a detailed plan indicating the real positions of the warring factions, which is incredibly helpful for visualizing the conflict. A real highlight for me was the immersive acting experience, where you handle a wooden musket and learn to march like the troops before battle. Furthermore, the shooting simulation is beautifully crafted, brilliantly capturing the essence and intensity of what it must have been like to be amidst a real fight. This entire site is stunning and comes highly recommended for a visit with both kids and friends.

Absolutely worth the time and money ! My son and me are both pretty interested in the figure of Napoleon and the museum really met our expectations. The displays are super nice, to the point and never ‘too much’. Every object and display had a reason to be there. Just the 3D film was below average: the purpose is probably to visualise the insanity of that type of combat but it is a poor effort. Not worth the wait IMHO. The climb to the lion is more or less mandatory (since you are there anyway) but then the table explaining the view in front of you, is so poorly maintained, it hardly serves it purpose anymore. But , conclusion : this was a turning point in history and the museum explains this excellently !

Recommend visiting with someone who knows the battle of Waterloo well. The museum does a great job of highlighting the key tactics and operational art, but it doesn't cover everything. Regardless, I visited on a weekday and there were only a few people there. I had lunch in the restaurant on the compound and it was delicious! Recommend spending 2-3 hours at Waterloo.

The site itself is powerful and well presented. The Lion’s Mound offers a stunning view over the historic battlefield, and the museum is modern, informative, and respectfully curated. You really get a sense of the importance and scale of what happened here in 1815. However, the experience was seriously diminished by a commercial event taking place right on the grounds — including a massive crane lifting an entire restaurant into the air as an attraction. Add to that loud music and container-like buildings set up next to the historic site, and the atmosphere turns from reflective and solemn to loud and theme-park-like. It’s a real shame, because Waterloo deserves dignity and a calm, respectful setting. I would strongly recommend visiting outside of these commercial events, when the site can truly speak for itself.

There was a surprisingly small car park at the site but we managed to find a space and by then the rain had stopped so that was a bonus. We had a coffee in the cafe and then went in to the exhibition, which cost €23. The diorama displaying the battlefield was breathtaking. It had taken 30 years to make and had 10,000 figures on it, displaying the battlefield in late morning, before the main action started. Continuing through we saw displays of weapons, uniforms and equipment and a timeline of the events of the 100 days between Napoleon escaping from Elba and then end at Waterloo. There was a 3D film which showed the main events of the battle as a soldier on the ground rather than a general's or strategic view and that was excellent. Far more sobering was a collection of sketches made by one of the English surgeons of battle injuries he treated. Panorama's are a great way to depict the scale of events such as Waterloo and we saw a photo montage created from the 300 year anniversary re-enactment where 6400 people took part and also a 1913 (maybe, can't remember to be honest) painting of the battle where you could walk around and look at different actions, in context. Once we left the exhibition itself we had the option of climbing the Lion Mound. This is the memorial to the battle, built on the site where William of Orange (not the original, this one was the Prince commanding the Dutch-Belgian forces) was wounded in the shoulder. The monument was contentious for many years and the Belgians wanted to destroy it when they gained independence from the Dutch in 1830 and the French vandalised it in 1832. Muggins decided he could run up, it was only 226 steps after all. About 2/3 of the way my body reminded me I was actually 59 years old and if I wanted to see 60 then it was time to grow up and unusually, I listened. I continued a sedate walk to the top of the monument and the view was impressive with the wheat fields, the farms still there and generally unspoiled. Deb was far more sensible and sat on a bench at the bottom. The final part of this visit was the lego exhibition. This cost an extra €4 but rounded the trip off lightly as a bit of fun. The models were wonderful and each had a sticker showing how many blocks were used and how long it took. They displayed all the significant events of Napoleon's career and the collection was brilliantly executed, the planned invasion model of England being my favourite but his Imperial coronation and the fight at Hougoumont Farm were close seconds. After a visit to the gift shop, naturally, we ended our tour having spent around 3.5 hours on the site.

We didn’t have time to visit the museum itself -it was a quick stop on the way to the airport (make sure to plan at least 1.5 extra hours if you want the full experience). 🌳 But we did explore the battlefield and climbed the Lion’s Mound. Even in a short time, we got a sense of the historic atmosphere -a brief but powerful glimpse into the past.

Well worth a visit and worth climbing the 220 steps up to the Lion’s mound for a spectacular view of the battlefield. The museum is impressive. You need an hour. Highly recommended.

Our recent trip from Dublin, Ireland to the historic battlefield of Waterloo was nothing short of extraordinary. I visited with my wife and our son, who is an avid enthusiast of the Napoleonic Era, and we were all blown away by the depth of history, the scale of the site and the powerful sense of place that surrounds this iconic location. From the moment we arrived, it was clear that the site is incredibly well-preserved and thoughtfully presented. The visitor center was modern, informative and interactive, offering a perfect introduction to the events of June 1815. The 4D cinematic experience and the immersive museum displays brought the battle to life in a way that captivated all of us, especially our son. He was in awe seeing uniforms, weapons and detailed dioramas that told the story from multiple perspectives. Walking the actual battlefield was surreal. Standing on the ridge where Wellington’s troops held the line and then climbing the Lion’s Mound gave us a panoramic view that helped us truly understand the scale and strategy of the battle. The sightlines between Hougoumont, La Haye Sainte and Papelotte farms made it easy to picture the movements of the armies. For a history lover, this is sacred ground. We also visited the Hougoumont Farm, which has been carefully restored and now includes multimedia exhibits. The moment you step into the courtyard, you feel transported back in time. The contrast between the peaceful countryside and the echoes of such a brutal and pivotal clash in European history is striking. The staff and guides were friendly, knowledgeable and clearly passionate about sharing the story of Waterloo. Everything was clean, well-organized and accessible. Whether you're a history buff or a casual visitor, there is so much to take in and appreciate. Our son described the experience as “a dream come true,” and I couldn’t agree more. Waterloo is more than just a battlefield. It is a monument to courage, leadership and the turning tides of history. Visiting here was deeply moving and truly unforgettable. Highly recommended for families, history lovers and anyone who wants to connect with the past in a powerful and meaningful way.

This is highly worthwhile, especially if you are interested in history / the battle itself. I try to do appreciable advance research relating to our trips. However, there are sometimes levels of detail that are not evident until you experience things first hand. So as an introduction to this site, I'll first discuss travel logistics. Assuming that you are staying in Brussels without a car, you'll need to take a train / bus combo to visit this site. Trains from Brussels Central or Noord run fairly frequently to Braine-l'Alleud. You can probably get one within 30 minutes or so of walking up, but you may want to consult a schedule. The out there takes around 30 -35 minutes, I think. You purchase this ticket from a machine via a credit card (I'm not sure if there is a way to purchase with cash other than finding a human-staffed desk at a large station). I think the fare was in the neighborhood of 10 Euros. Once you reach Braine-l'Alleud, you walk directly from the platform across a small parking lot to a street. Across the street is the stop for the 'W' bus, which will take you to the battlefield. The stop is between a Chinese restaurant and a motorcycle dealer (when we went). The bus runs roughly every 30 minutes and there is a schedule posted at the stop. It varies between weekdays and weekends. There is also an app you can get (my daughter found it) that lets you track the buses in real time. We saw a bus pull away just as we exited the station, so coordinating the schedules would have saved us a few minutes. The crucial detail that we missed was that bus far is cash only - no credit cards. It was our last full day and we had tried to spend our Euros so as not to have too many left. Hence, we could not ride this bus! We got off and found an ATM across the train tracks. We obtained 25 Euros to have some buffer. The bus fare one-way to the battlefield is less than 3 Euros per person. We got back and waited for the next bus, which we then rode to the battlefield. The total route on the bus is probably about 1.5 miles and there are sidewalks the whole way. Later, we noted tha the return bus was delayed by 30 minutes, so we ended up walking back to the train station from the battlefield. It wasn't a bad walk. As to the battlefield and museum itself, here are the highlights: * I bought tickets in advance, but it didn't seem like that was necessary on the day we went. These were not timed, but were good for the entire day. It doesn't hurt to have them, though. The museum is built underground, perhaps so as not to disturb the views of what the battlefield looks like. There were references to audio tours and some app that you could have downloaded to help with the visit but we didn't see these until we were well into the exhibits. You may want to ask when you arrive. The layout of the museum first a short high-level timeline of how the battle came about - monarchies, the French Revolution, and the rise of Napoleon. This is covered in 2 - 3 intiial rooms. You then move into a long hallway that slopes slighly up as you go. Along each side behind glass are manikins dressed as representatives of the states engaged in the battle. Some are mounted on horses. The timeline here is more dense, showing the maneuverings in the days leading up to the battle itself. You can then view a 10 - 15 minute 3-D film about the battle, which gives you even more of a feel for it. If you have the audio tour, you may get translations for the French / German bits also. After the film, you can check out some details about the aftermath of the battle, as well as an animated bird's eye view of the engagement. * The Panorama - This is a huge painting that wraps around to 360-degrees and attempts to tell the story of the battle. This is housed in a large round stone building adjacent to the museum. Apparently, this type of painting was popular in the late 1800s (pre-movies) and traveled to various cities. There is also one related to the U.S. Civil Ware in Atlanta, GA. I think there is one at the Gettysburg battlefield in Pennsylvania as well. Having seen the one in Atlanta a few times, this was neat to compare. * The Lion Mound - a memorial to one of the fallen nobles/military leaders. This is about 130 feet high with over 200 steps leading up. It was a workout, but has nice views at the top. * Hougoumount Farm - this place figured prominently in the battle, and is preserved as a separate site. It is about a mile from the museum and can be reached by a wide paved path. They have a regular shuttle cart (think of the type that cover huge parking lots in places like Disney World in the U.S.) that runs at ~ 25 minute intervals. We walked out to the site and took the tram back. The site has some exhibits and is worth the short side trip if you have time. They also have a café and table-service restaurant on-site. Go early (before 12:30 p.m.) for the best chance of service. There are few other walkable eateries

Of course, Waterloo. With a country so rich in history you can't ignore such historic places. There are several things you can do here, most of which have a fee tacked on-- from climbing up to the lion, to exploring the museum, to checking out the panorama. It's your grade 1 class field trip all over again. However, it does have a bit of tech involved. While I personally am more a fan of climbing up to see the view the museum was very interactive. Moving paintings, puzzles, and questions. Lots to mess with and see. At first I thought oh, this will be rather kiddie, but for an adult it was pretty entertaining too. It had a good equilibrium of those science museums for kids and what would usually be dry history. At the end there was a 3D movie. Probably not something I'd want to go on again, but for the first time it was neat. The most outdated thing there was probably the panorama. It looked like it's been around for awhile in terms of panorama x museum life. We could include the Lion.. but he was remarkable as ever. Very educational.

On the afternoon of 18 June, 1815, the allied armies under the Duke of Wellington ended the Napoleonic Wars, Empire, and Era with a massive and decisive defeat of the French Emperor's forces here. The battle was the last of its kind, a major set-piece engagement between professional cavalry, artillery, and infantry corps of similar size and experience and led by some of the most brilliant military minds in history. As turning points go, the event marked the end of French and Britsh rivalry on the Continent, and was the last time either would square off with the Prussians as allies. Within 50 years, the US Civil War would bring on the first massive waves of mechanization and trench warfare. After Waterloo, it would require a stretch of the imagination to find anything brilliant or heroic or romantic in the many ways we find to kill each other. Today, you can take the quick option and visit the Butte de Lion, or you can spend an afternoon tracing the routes of the battlefield. There are memorials and vistas all over the ridge that stretches 4km south from the Lion (the British lines) and then east across the N5 to Napoleon's farmhouse headquarters. The area is all working farmland now, but crisscrossed with paths where the Belgians come to stroll with their pets. We used to ride bikes around here as children. In winter, the winds can be daunting, but in summer, with all of the historic scars long healed, this is one of the many beautiful landscapes of Wallonian Belgium.

The museum is interesting. It is full of costumes of soldiers. In addition there is a huge 3D model of the battlefield. If you love history you will like this museum. If you only have a few days in Belgium, I would head to Brugge instead.

Well, what is a trip to Belgium without a visit to Waterloo. While it is a short trip out of Brussels, getting to the actual site can be somewhat difficult and having a car (or arranging a tour) is probably quite helpful. We ended up renting a car to come down here (which can be problematic when you are used to driving on the other side of the road to the Europeans). Anyway, the Bute, which is a huge hill with a lion on top, was the original memorial to the battle, however much more recently they have constructed a huge museum underground which is basically a multi-media extravaganza. Also, the audio tour is required to activate half of the exhibits (though I have never been a fan of audio tours after the incredibly boring one I picked up at Stonehenge). However, it is free so that is helpful. Mind you, to climb the Bute you do need to go to the museum, but the museum is pretty much worth it anyway.

This historic piece of land and the battle behind it all is incredible. So educational and I do recommend you to check out the museum. The movie and information center is worth the time. Not much to see as there is to learn but you will be left with an impression on the scenic view from the Lion Mound (Le Butte Du Lion). The 200 plus steps up the mound is challenging for someone who is not fit but worth the effort. Simply beautiful.

There is not a lot to see but if you watch the movies played in the visitor center (not free) it will make it a bit more impressive to see this battlefield... (When I went there, there was so much fog, I could not really see it... Loser...)

I thought they were doing a nice job here. For 7€ (the adult price) you can go up onto the lion mound. For 9€ you get the lion mound, the two movies (about 12 mins each or so) and entrance to the panorama. (This appeared to be the everyday price, no coupon needed). For the extra 2€, it's worth getting the package. The movies really do make it all come to life. I walked to the battlefield from the town of Waterloo. If you're in town, the Wellington museum is very interesting, too. From town it's a direct walk on the main street (The Chaussée de Bruxelles) until you get to the lion, about 4 kilometers. You'll see the mound once you get close and you just have to make a right at the traffic light that takes you to it. Since I walked, when you get close, the sidewalk disappears. I ended up walking up onto the edge of the farmland that now occupies the space. The open land there is vast and it was amazing to think about all that happened! (There's a bit of sidewalk on the other side of the road, headed back into town, but even that isn't consistent.) Going up the stairs to the lion is strenuous even though the mound didn't seem to be as big in person as I had imagined. (I guess I thought it was going to be visible from anywhere in Waterloo.) The view from the top was wonderful! After I was up there for a few minutes a pregnant woman showed up with her young family. She said she wanted to see if she could do it even if it meant taking some breathers. All in all, I think everyone should go to the top of the mound to complete the Waterloo experience!