Published: 18 September 2026
Intro
The easiest way to grasp how the serene cemeteries of Flanders were created after the Great War is with Visit Flanders Fields, a private tour that takes you from Bruges to Tyne Cot and other sites of remembrance. At war’s end, tens of thousands of soldiers lay in makeshift graves across the Ypres Salient. The Imperial (now Commonwealth) War Graves Commission faced the immense task of honouring every fallen soldier. This guide explains how exhumation teams transformed chaotic battlefields into the dignified burial grounds we know today.
Exhumation companies at work
Following the Armistice, the British government resolved that all the dead would remain where they fell. Between 1919 and 1921 specialised exhumation companies combed the wrecked landscape, recovering remains from isolated graves and small battlefield plots. At Tyne Cot alone, teams collected 12,000 bodies from the surrounding fields; fewer than 3,800 could be identified. This painstaking work involved sifting through mud and debris, searching for identity disks or personal effects. When no identification was possible, the body was reburied under a headstone inscribed ‘A Soldier of the Great War’. The exhumation teams operated under difficult conditions: foul weather, unexploded shells and the emotional weight of handling human remains. Their efforts ensured that even the unknown would be honoured individually.
Designing cemeteries of remembrance
The Imperial War Graves Commission engaged leading architects to create cemeteries that conveyed equality in death. Sir Herbert Baker designed Tyne Cot, which today holds 11,956 graves, making it the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the world. Headstones are laid out in serried rows, irrespective of rank. Behind them rises the Tyne Cot Memorial, bearing the names of 35,000 soldiers who have no known grave. Similar principles guided the layout of smaller cemeteries like Oxford Road and Poelcapelle. From 1920 onwards, horticulturists planted shrubs, roses and yew trees to soften the starkness of the white headstones, creating the garden‑like atmosphere visitors experience today.
Visiting the sites
A private day tour from Bruges explores the story of exhumation and commemoration. First stop is the Passchendaele Museum in Zonnebeke, whose exhibition explains how the dead were recovered and identifies the men who carried out this work. From there it’s a short drive to Tyne Cot Cemetery. Your guide will point out original German pillboxes, the central Cross of Sacrifice and the Stone of Remembrance. Walking along the headstones, you’ll hear stories like that of Private John Hunter of the Australian 3rd Division, whose grave lies close to where he fell, and of unknown soldiers whose families never knew their fate. Next, travel to the CWGC Experience near Arras (an optional extension) to see how gravestones and bronze panels are still produced and restored.
Practical information
- Duration: Approximately eight hours.
- Pickup: From your hotel in Bruges.
- Terrain: Flat grass and paved paths; cemeteries are wheelchair accessible.
- Season: Open year‑round; the gardens are especially beautiful in spring and summer.
- Group size: Private tours only.
Keeping faith with the fallen
Visiting the cemeteries of Flanders is a deeply moving experience. Understanding the monumental task of recovering and honouring the dead adds a profound layer of meaning. The exhumation companies’ work ensured that men of all nations and ranks were commemorated equally, and their efforts continue through the maintenance of cemeteries today. A tour from Bruges allows you to pay your respects, learn the stories behind the headstones and support the ongoing mission of remembrance.
Ready to pay homage to those who never came home? Join us on a journey through Flanders’ cemeteries to witness the legacy of sacrifice and care that endures a century later.