Armistice Day
Historical Context
Armistice Day falls on 11 November every year and is one of the 10 official public holidays. On this day, the end of World War I in 1918 is commemorated.
On 11 November 1918 at 11 o'clock, the armistice ending the First World War was signed. Belgium was one of the countries most severely affected. After the German invasion of August 1914, most of the country was occupied. Only a narrow strip behind the Yser, around Nieuwpoort and Diksmuide, remained in Belgian hands. There followed four years of devastating trench warfare. The Flemish Westhoek became one of the bloodiest fronts of the entire war. Tyne Cot Cemetery near Passchendaele is the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world, with nearly 12,000 graves.
The central national commemoration takes place each year at the Congress Column in Brussels, beside the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The King lays a wreath and a minute's silence is observed. Across the country, municipalities hold their own memorial ceremonies at local war memorials. The Westhoek region plays a special role: it contains more than 170 military cemeteries and hundreds of memorials. In Ypres, the Last Post sounds every evening at 8 p.m. beneath the Menin Gate, a tradition maintained without interruption since 1928 (except during the German occupation in the Second World War).
Regional Traditions
Ypres
The Last Post sounds every evening at 8 p.m. beneath the Menin Gate, but the 11 November ceremony is the most impressive. A Poppy Parade proceeds from St Martin's Cathedral to the Menin Gate. The tradition has been maintained without interruption since 1928.
Brussels
At the Congress Column, the King lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where an eternal flame has burned since 1922. A minute's silence is observed nationwide at 11 o'clock.
Westhoek
Schools across Belgium visit war cemeteries in the Westhoek in the weeks before 11 November. Tyne Cot Cemetery, the world's largest Commonwealth war cemetery, receives hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
All of Belgium
In virtually every municipality, a memorial ceremony is held at the local war memorial, with wreath-laying by mayors, veterans' associations and schoolchildren.