Frequently asked questions
Planning a private visit to Ypres, Passchendaele, Flanders Fields or the Somme? Here are clear answers from your guide, Niels Declercq.
Practical answers. A personal battlefield day.
Every Visit Flanders Fields tour is private, for up to six guests, and personally guided. Whether you want to discover the Ypres Salient or follow a relative’s wartime story, these answers will help you choose the right route.
Choosing your battlefield tour
Find the tour that fits your time, interests and family history.
What is Visit Flanders Fields?
Visit Flanders Fields offers private First World War battlefield tours in the Ypres Salient, Flanders Fields and Northern France. Every tour is guided personally by Niels Declercq and is reserved for your group of up to six guests. Tours can focus on major battles, a particular nationality or an individual soldier.
Should I choose a half-day Ypres tour or a full-day Flanders Fields tour?
Choose the half-day Ypres tour if your time is limited and you want a focused introduction. Choose the full-day Flanders Fields tour for more time at cemeteries, trenches, memorials and less-visited locations. Both tours are private and tailored to your interests.
Do you offer private Somme and Northern France battlefield tours?
Yes. The Somme and Northern France tour can explore sites such as Beaumont-Hamel, Thiepval, Pozières, Vimy Ridge and Villers-Bretonneux. Routes are adapted to the people, battles or national history you want to understand.
Are tours private or shared with other travellers?
All Visit Flanders Fields tours are 100% private. No strangers join your group. Your guide adjusts the pace, stops and stories to your interests, with a maximum of six guests.
Prices and booking
Transparent group pricing and a simple way to book directly.
How much does a private WW1 battlefield tour cost?
Prices are per private group, not per person, and change with the date and tour. The half-day Ypres tour currently starts from €450, the full-day Flanders Fields tour from €595, and the Somme tour from €795. Check the booking calendar for the exact price before paying.
How do I book a private battlefield tour?
Use the Book Now page to select your tour and date, confirm your group details and pay securely. For a personal route or a question before booking, contact Niels directly.
What if my preferred date is unavailable in the calendar?
The calendar shows available dates, but some adjustments may be possible. Send your preferred date, pickup point and group size. Availability cannot be guaranteed until it is confirmed.
What is your cancellation policy?
Under the current booking terms, cancellations at least seven days before the tour receive a 100% refund; cancellations between seven days and 72 hours receive 50%; cancellations less than 72 hours before the tour are not refundable. Please read the full terms before booking.
Pickup, duration and transport
Spend your day on history, not on organising transfers.
How long do the Ypres and Somme battlefield tours last?
The half-day Ypres tour takes about 5 to 6 hours, usually from 12:30 to around 18:00. The full-day Flanders Fields tour typically runs from 09:00 to 18:00. Somme tours are longer full days, with exact timings agreed for your itinerary.
Is pickup from Bruges or Ypres included?
Yes. Private transport and standard pickup from Bruges or Ypres are included on the usual tours. You can normally be collected at your hotel or an agreed meeting point. Your booking confirmation gives the exact arrangement.
Can you collect us in Ghent, Brussels or Lille?
Alternative pickup locations such as Ghent, Brussels or Lille can be discussed for an additional fee. They depend on the route and tour duration. A half-day Ypres tour with pickup from Brussels is not normally offered because the driving time leaves too little time on the battlefield.
Can we finish the tour somewhere different from where we started?
Often, yes. A different drop-off point can be arranged in advance if the route and schedule allow it. Tell us your intended pickup and final destination before booking so any extra transport charge is clear.
What happens on the battlefield?
Sites and stories are selected for your group, not taken from a fixed checklist.
Which WW1 sites will we visit around Ypres?
Depending on your interests and the day, your tour may include Tyne Cot Cemetery, the Menin Gate, Passchendaele, Polygon Wood, Hill 60, Essex Farm, Messines or surviving trenches. These are possible locations, not a promise to fit every site into one tour.
Can we add or skip particular battlefields, cemeteries or memorials?
Yes. Share any must-see locations, family graves or regimental interests beforehand. Your guide will plan a sensible route and explain what can realistically fit in the time available.
Do we need to book lunch or museum tickets in advance?
Lunch is flexible and paid separately. Museum visits are optional, and admission is included only when this is stated in your agreed tour details. Tell us in advance if a particular museum or lunch stop is important to you.
What should we wear and bring?
Wear comfortable, sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. Battlefield paths can be muddy or uneven. Feel free to bring a camera, family photographs, service records or a soldier’s name so we can discuss them on the ground.
Family history and your guide
Follow a person or regiment through evidence and the real landscape.
Can you trace a relative who fought or died in the First World War?
Yes. A custom ancestral battlefield tour can be built around a relative’s service, unit, grave, memorial or battlefield sector. Where evidence survives, Niels uses sources such as unit war diaries, service records, trench maps and historical photographs. The exact spot where a soldier fought or died cannot always be established.
What if I only know a soldier’s name?
Send whatever you have: a name, service number, regiment, photograph, letter or family story. That can be enough to begin identifying relevant records and places. More detailed archive research may involve extra work and is not automatically included in every tour.
Who will guide my tour of the Ypres battlefields?
Niels Declercq personally guides Visit Flanders Fields tours. He is a SYNTRA-certified regional guide for the Westhoek who specialises in First World War history and personal battlefield stories. Your booking is not passed to a rotating team of guides.
Are your battlefield tours suitable for children?
Yes. Tours can be adapted to family groups, with shorter explanations and more interactive stops. They are generally best suited to children aged 12 and above; if you are travelling with younger children, ask about a suitable itinerary.
Last Post and special requests
Useful details before your tour begins.
Can we attend the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate?
Yes. The Last Post takes place at the Menin Gate in Ypres at 20:00 and attendance itself is free. A guided evening extension with transport can be added to selected bookings for an additional charge. The normal full-day tour ends around 18:00.
Can we visit the Ypres Salient and the Somme in a single day?
Both regions can be discussed for a custom itinerary, but separate days are usually the better choice. Driving between them reduces your time at the places that matter. For a deeper visit, plan one day around Ypres and another around the Somme or Arras.
Are the battlefields accessible if someone has limited mobility?
Many memorials and cemeteries have relatively easy access, but some trenches, slopes and paths are uneven or muddy. Tell Niels about mobility needs before booking so he can suggest suitable stops and check whether the transport arrangements will work.
Ready to explore the Western Front?
Choose your date online, or get in touch if you have a family connection, a special pickup or a custom battlefield route in mind.