The best dog-friendly hikes and walks in Slagveld Passendale

Beautiful park for walking, with beautiful trees. Most paths are wheelchair accessible, which is nice in a forest.

The air pump was broken

An interesting anecdote about Polygon Wood Cemetery concerns the only German soldier buried there, Hans Bogner. His headstone was once broken in two and later repaired. This is remarkable because it is quite rare for headstones to spontaneously break, suggesting that there is a special story behind this damage. There is also the story of Second Lieutenant John Lowe, a Royal Engineer buried in the cemetery. He was awarded both the Military Cross and the Military Medal, indicating that he showed exceptional courage and leadership during the fighting.

Polygon Wood Cemetery is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery located in Zonnebeke. It was originally established in August 1917 as a frontline cemetery and contains the graves of 108 soldiers, 19 of whom are unknown. Most of the buried soldiers are from New Zealand and the United Kingdom, with one German soldier. The cemetery is located in the historic Polygon Wood, which was the scene of fierce fighting during the First World War. The cemetery's design, by Charles Holden, includes a Cross of Sacrifice and a walled entrance.

The Polygon Forest, also known as Polygon Wood, is a historically and ecologically valuable forest area in Zonnebeke. The forest is located on the Central West Flemish ridge and is an important breeding ground for birds of prey such as sparrowhawks, kestrels and buzzards. The Polygon Forest also houses important war memorials, including the Buttes New British Cemetery and the smaller Polygon Wood Cemetery. These cemeteries are a tribute to the soldiers who died during the First World War. An interesting anecdote concerns the Scott Post and the New Zealand Bunkers, which can still be found in the forest. These bunkers were built by the Germans and later occupied by the Australian divisions in 1917.

Eight memorial gardens were created, each in the shape of a poppy, a symbol of the war. Each garden was designed to commemorate the unique contribution and sacrifice of each country during the Battle of Passchendaele, using symbolic vegetation, modern art and poetry. The following countries were involved: Belgium, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, France, Germany, USA.

An impressive memorial that vividly illustrates the role of the Maori presence in Europe during the First World War. The monument is a stone's throw from the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917. The pou maumahara (memorial carving) is made from 4,500 year old native New Zealand wood by master carvers, teachers and students from the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute (NZMACI) in Rotorua, New Zealand. The monument has two sides representing Tumatauenga (war) and Rongomaraeroa (peace), recognising those who travelled great distances to take part in the war, as well as those who remained in New Zealand", "Pohutukawa trees welcomed the tupuna (ancestors) of the Maori people of New Zealand when they first arrived in the country, and were also the tree that spiritually bids farewell to our loved ones." The story depicted, “Pou maumahara”, is part of New Zealand’s shared history with Belgium – and the reason so many of our people travel here each year to honour the memory of those who fought in the First World War. The red pohutukawa flower is also often compared to the poppy at Passchendaele when it is in bloom. The monument weighs just over six tonnes and is eight metres high. A monument to look up to with respect. You can also observe the Haka at this location pronounce. Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora! Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora! Tenei te tangata puhuru huru Nana nei i tiki mai Whakawhiti te ra A upa ... ne! A upa ... ne! A upane kaupane whiti te ra! Hi!!! Ha!!! English translation: This death! This death! This life! This life! This death! This death! This life! This life! Behold! There stands a hairy man He has brought something He made the sun shine A step forward! Another step forward! A step forward, another.. The sun is shining!! Hi!!! Ha!!!

The Passchendaele Memorial Park combines recreation and nature with the memory of the Battle of Passchendaele. The park has 8 memorial gardens in the symbolic shape of a poppy. At the request of the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, these gardens are filled by the various nations that participated in the Battle of Passchendaele, with a design that combines modern art, poetry and symbolic vegetation from that country. During the commemoration years, the various gardens were opened. After a visit to the Passchendaele Museum, you can reflect on the horrors of the First World War in a subdued way during a walk in the park. Thematic walks to Tyne Cot Cemetery and the Polygon Forest and a bike ride that connects the WWI heritage in Zonnebeke also depart from the park. Source: https://www.toerismewesthoek.be/nl/flanders-fields/groote-oorlognl/doen/passchendaele-memorial-gardens