What to do · Ypres (Ieper)
The Menin Gate and the Last Post at eight o'clock
Information
- Price
- Free, no booking
- Duration
- 45 min
- Season
- All year, 365 days, at 20:00 sharp
- Who it's for
- All ages; in silence during the ceremony
The Menin Gate is a triumphal arch that Sir Reginald Blomfield built at the eastern exit of Ypres, through which soldiers marched to the front. It was unveiled on 24 July 1927 and its walls carry the names of more than 54,000 Commonwealth soldiers missing in the Ypres Salient up to 15 August 1917; those who fell afterwards are at Tyne Cot.
The Last Post
Every evening, at 20:00 sharp, the police stop the traffic beneath the arch and the buglers of the Last Post Association sound the Last Post. It has been held every day since 2 July 1928. It is free and no booking is needed. It lasts about 15 minutes.
How to be there
Arrive at 19:30 if you want to see it up close, especially in summer and around 11 November, when it fills up. Silence is kept and there is no applause. In 2027 the memorial turns one hundred.
Tips
- Dine beforehand Book dinner for 18:00 so you can arrive calmly, or afterwards, at 20:30.
Frequently asked questions
What time is the Last Post in Ypres?
Every day at 20:00 sharp, at the Menin Gate.
Do you have to pay or book?
No. It is free and without reservation.
How many names are on the Menin Gate?
More than 54,000, of Commonwealth soldiers with no known grave.
As a familyWith teenagers
