Dodengang (Trench of Death)

The basics

The Trench of Death was the heart of Belgian resistance until the victorious Battle of Flanders began on Sept. 28, 1918. Visiting this World War I memorial site offers perspective on the size and conditions of the trenches. The visitor center uses maps, photographs, videos, and war memorabilia to tell the story of life and death on the front lines. The exhibits explain how the Belgians fought for four years and what weapons and equipment they used. Some multi-day bike tours of Belgium include a visit to Diksmuide.

Things to know before you go

• Wear rubber boots to visit the site during rainy conditions.

• There is a nominal admission fee; guided tours take an hour and are available for groups of a maximum of 25 people for a fee.

• There is elevator access to the three floors in the main building and partial access to the trenches for visitors with limited mobility.

How to get there

The Trench of Death is located at IJzerdijk 65 near Diksmuide. The closest train station is Diksmuide. From there, you can transfer to a bus; the nearest stop is Kaaskerke Station (a 20-minute walk to Dodengang) on bus lines 41, 32, and 24 via Flemish public transportation service De Lijn. It’s about a 45-minute drive from Bruges, and from Ghent is about an hour.

When to get there

Opening hours are 10am–6pm daily from April 1 to Nov. 15 and 9:30am to 4pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Nov. 16 to March 31; it is closed from Dec. 25 to Jan. 3. The best time to visit Diksmuide is from June to September when you’ll experience the most pleasant weather. The winters are typically very cold and windy.

Things to do in Diksmuide

Although it’s not as popular as other Belgium cities, Diksmuide boasts several historical sites, including the Yser Towers, a monument built to commemorate the Belgian soldiers killed on the surrounding Yser Front during World War I, and the Blankaart Castle, the facade of which is flanked by two semicircular corner towers.