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When thinking of Belgium, amazing beer and delicious chocolate come to mind. However, after visiting Flanders Fields, a brutal war now comes to mind too. We’re always quite fascinated with the history of places we visit, and the Dodengang Trench of Death brought the history of Belgium really to life for us.
The Dodengang Trench, or “Trench of Death” is a World War One trench in Diksmuide, Belgium (a small town in West Flanders). The town is known well known for the Yser Tower. In fact, the tower can be seen from afar while driving through Flanders Fields.
The Yser Tower
The Yser Tower itself is more than just a memorial or museum, there are war wounds within the tower too. In the picture below, you can see a smaller tower on the left, this was the original WW1 memorial tower, though during WW2 the tower was bombed and destroyed. Since WW2, they have built the newer Yser Tower, (the tall one on the right side).
Just visiting the outside of the tower brings the reality of war into perspective. You can see the previously bombed tower and find cages of bomb pieces that farmers are still finding on their farmlands today.
Traveler’s Tip… You can pay to go inside the tower museum and actually go nearly to the top, though, just keep in mind, there is a lot of paid experiences in the area, and if you pay for them all, you’ll go straight broke! To check out opening times and current pricing for the Yser Tower, head here.
The Dodengang Trench Of Death
Driving up to the Dodengang trenches, we really didn’t fully grasp what we were about to see. And in all honesty, I don’t think we did until getting back to the house and researching more of the Flanders Fields area.
Getting out of the car we were completely distracted by the thunderstorm rumbling in the distance, (something we didn’t get to experience in the two years in Scotland!) so when we finally reached where you can see the trenches we were so taken aback.
The Dodengang Trench of Death stands mainly as it did when it was in use, though there have been a few restorations done to strengthen the durability of the trench itself. What looks like sandbags in the photos are actually cement bags made to mimic the original sandbags in place during the war.
We can’t imagine what it would have been like living day and night in these trenches, or even digging them out and placing each individual sandbag, knowing that’s what was holding the ground up from caving in on you.
We wandered around next to the trenches just thinking of what life would have been like in those trenches during the First World War. It wasn’t until getting back to the house and researching more on the areas we had visited in Flanders Fields, that we learned more of the history of the trenches themselves.
The History Behind The Dodengang Trench Of Death
We were in complete disbelief when we read that the Belgians and Germans were fighting only 50 meters away from each other right there where we were standing. There’s actually a sign posted with the number 16 on it, and both of us took a mental note of the sign which, come to find out is the spot that the Belgians held the Germans. (If only we had known what it was to snap a photo of it to share).
If you look closely at the next few pictures, you can see two different trench lines. Can you guess which one came first??
The straight trench line was the first trench dug out. However, the Belgians quickly learned that this wasn’t the best strategy as it provided no real protection to hide behind if the Germans were at one end of the trench. So, they made the second trench in a zigzag form, creating walls for shelter from bullets and such behind the zigzags. Here’s a closer look.
We also learned that the original trench was much longer, but the Belgians realized the trench was too far north and the Germans were taking over too much. So, they actually blew up part of the trench closest to the river, then allowed that part to flood creating a barrier between them and the Germans.
It’s’ absolutely crazy to think how different this area of Belgium was only 100 years ago. Again, we’re just so taken aback by the history right here at our doorstep. If you know anything more about this area of Belgium, or think there’s a place in the area we should visit, please let us know in the comments below!
Where to Stay When Visiting The Dodengang Trench Of Death
While Bruges is a huge hotspot for people visiting Belgium, our all-time favorite city in Belgium is Ghent. So we definitely recommend staying in Ghent! It’s only about an hour drive away from Dodengang (Diksmuide), making it close enough for a short day trip into Flanders Fields!
We always like to look for AirBnBs when we travel to be able to eat meals at the house before going out exploring. And, it gives you an insight into how the locals live!
Recommended Gear For Visiting Flanders Fields
Travel Bag
We always travel with this backpack. It’s comfy, waterproof, and had padding to keep your camera and belongings safe while throwing it in and out of the car visiting places like this!
Camera Set Up
All photos in this post were taken with this camera using mainly this lens, and occasionally this one. You can check out a full list of our camera gear here.
Water Bottle
It’s actually safe to drink the water in Belgium, so just filling this water bottle each time you leave your accommodation will save you some cash! And the best part is, this bottle keeps liquids cold for 24 hours and hot for 6 hours – so your water will stay cold all day, or you could fill it with hot coffee or tea to go!
