Hooge Crater Museum

The basics

The crater in Hooge was formed on July 19, 1915. Around that time during the war, the German troops had an excellent overview of the British front line in the Ypres-Salient area. The British troops tried to eliminate this with a targeted attack. They exploded more than 3,700 pounds (1,678 kilograms) of dynamite in a tunnel, which formed a crater that was later called the Hooge Crater. Guided tours of historic World War I sites from Brussels usually include a stop at the Hooge Crater Museum, and you can easily combine a visit to the museum with sites in the area if you’re exploring on your own.

Things to know before you go

• The crater, which is now flooded, lies just east of the museum.

• The average duration of a visit is around 90 minutes.

• There is an admission fee to the museum.

• Designed for visitors of all ages, the museum allows children to explore on their own along the Hooge Boys' trail, an interactive, playful trail with fun assignments.

How to get there

The Hooge Crater Museum is located at Meenseweg 467, about 3.4 miles (5.4 kilometers) east of Ypres. It’s easily accessible via the main roads; follow N37 to N8. Bus 80 stops at the Zillebeke-Bellewaerde stop; it’s a 5-minute walk from the museum. There is also a bicycle parking area with a charging station for e-bikes.

When to get there

The opening hours for the Hooge Crater Museum are 10am to 6pm Wednesday through Saturday and 10am to 9pm on Sundays. Peak season in Ypres runs from May until late September, so expect to encounter the biggest crowds then.

Menin Gate

Located a 5-minute drive from the museum, the Menin Gate is a memorial that was built by the British in 1927 on the eastern side of Ypres to commemorate the British soldiers who died in World War I and were neither identified nor found. Every night at 8pm traffic stops at the Menin Gate while buglers play the Last Post in the roadway under the memorial's arches.