At 8 PM sharp, every single evening, traffic stops in the town of Ypres. Locals and visitors gather under the vast arch of the Menin Gate. Then comes the silence—followed by the sound of a bugle playing the Last Post.
It’s a moment of pure remembrance. Since 1928, the people of Ypres have honoured the memory of the British and Commonwealth soldiers who died in the Ypres Salient during the First World War. This isn’t a seasonal event or an occasional tribute. It happens every night, regardless of weather, politics, or world events. Over 30,000 times and counting.
At Visit Flanders Fields, we believe that no battlefield tour is truly complete without witnessing this ritual. Many of our private day tours from Bruges offer the option to extend your experience to include the ceremony. It’s a powerful close to a day spent exploring trenches, cemeteries, and memorials. And it brings history back to life in a way no book or museum can.
Standing beneath the Menin Gate, you’ll see 54,896 names carved into the stone—soldiers with no known grave. These are the missing. They fell in the mud, in the gas attacks, in the chaos of battle. Their families never had a place to mourn. The gate, built where soldiers once marched off to the front, became their monument.
Our guides help set the scene with context and stories. We explain why the ceremony exists, how it started, and what it means to those who continue it. We also help arrange early arrival and reserved access when available, so you don’t miss a moment.
Many of our guests describe it as the most emotional part of their visit. The bugle call cuts through time. You’re standing where history happened—listening to a tribute that hasn’t stopped for nearly 100 years. Whether it’s your first visit to the Salient or your tenth, it never loses its impact.
If you’re traveling from Bruges, we make it simple. Our private battlefield tours can include the Last Post as a seamless add-on, with return transport and dinner recommendations in Ypres after the ceremony.
Come stand with us beneath the Gate. Honour the missing. Let the silence speak.