Antwerp to Passchendaele area: Private day trip

Nicknamed “Tyne Cot” after the resemblance of German pillboxes to workers cottages by the river Tyne in England’s Northumberland county by the Northumberland Fusiliers, initially this liberated area was home only to 343 casualties, but at the end of the Great War the land was granted to the British Empire by King Albert I of Belgium and casualties from local battles, principly Passchendaele, were interred here. Of the 11,954 soldiers buried here only 3596 have been identified, making this as much a commemoration to the unknown soldier and as a memorial to the missing.At the behest of King George V the Cross of Sacrifice, which is present at most Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries, was built on top of one of the surviving pillboxes. Two other pillboxes survive in the cemetery today. Tyne Cot is designed a laid out to have the feel of a well-ordered English churchyard.

Settled since pre-history, it was the Romans who laid the foundations for the thriving city Ghent would become. The city developed into a major medieval trade center, though began a slow decline after King Charles V was born here in 1500. It wasn’t until the 18th century, and an industrial boom that the city would be revived. Today, visitors can enjoy this Flemish gem’s rich heritage in the city’s many architectural monuments, including several ancient churches, an opulent opera house, the imposing Gravensteen Castle, and UNESCO-listed bell tower. To truly experience the city’s charm, find a seat on the Graslei, a picturesque spot in the town center, with views of the many bridges, grand houses, and medieval buildings.