Menin Gate
Ypres, Belgium
A memorial arch carved with the names of over 54,000 soldiers who have no known grave. The Last Post is played under the arch every evening at 8 pm; arrive early to find a place.
The Menin Gate (Menenpoort) is a memorial arch on the eastern edge of Ypres (Ieper) in West Flanders. It bears the names of 54,896 British and Commonwealth soldiers who have no known grave from the First World War. Sir Reginald Blomfield designed it, the sculpture is by Sir William Reid-Dick, and Lord Plumer unveiled the gate on 24 July 1927.
Every evening at 8 pm, volunteer buglers from the local fire brigade play the Last Post. The first ceremony took place on 3 July 1928. During the German occupation it was temporarily moved to Brookwood Military Cemetery in England and returned on the evening Ypres was liberated. The memorial was restored from April 2023; the Western Front Association reported completion in July 2025, and according to the CWGC the ceremony continued during the works. Since 2023 the gate has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of First World War funerary and memory sites (Western Front).
Getting there: from Ieper station it is about a 15-minute walk; bus 1 runs to the market square, from where it is under five minutes. Parking is paid at the market and free at the station (as of October 2026, check in advance).
- Nearest town
- Ypres, Belgium
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 50.8523, 2.8913
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and October. Cold, short days in January. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Belgium: No motorway tolls for cars. Low-emission zones in Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent; register foreign vehicles. Motorway limit for cars: 120 km/h.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Camping Urban GardensCampsite1 km from Menin GateTentsCaravansElectricityShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Camperpunt Hooge CraterMotorhome stopover4 km from Menin Gate · 8 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Camperplaats RavensteinMotorhome stopover11 km from Menin GateMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Camperpunt 't HekskenMotorhome stopover12 km from Menin Gate · 27 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowed
- Camping Les HoublonnièresCampsite15 km from Menin Gate · 25 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Camping du Pont CharletCampsite20 km from Menin GateTentsCaravansShowersToiletsWi-Fi
All campsites in Belgium · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Menin Gate?
Menin Gate is in Ypres, Belgium, at GPS 50.8523, 2.8913. It is about 7 km from Zonnebeke.
Can you camp near Menin Gate?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Camping Urban Gardens, about 1 km away; within 25 km there are 38 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Menin Gate?
Menin Gate is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: In Flanders Fields: the Yser and Ypres.
What is there to see near Menin Gate?
Places worth a stop nearby: Langemark German Cemetery (8 km), Tyne Cot Cemetery (9 km), IJzertoren (20 km) and King Albert I Memorial (32 km).
When is the best time to visit Menin Gate?
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)