Armistice Day Commemorative Events in Ypres - Ieper
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11 November is a public holiday in Belgium. Each year a number of commemorative events are held in Ieper (Ypres) to mark the anniversary of Armistice Day on 11 November 1918.
- Armistice Day Events & Timings
- Royal British Legion Flanders Field of Poppies
- St. George's Church Remembrance Day Service
- St. Martin's Cathedral Remembrance Day Service
- Parades Form Up: Vandenpeereboomplein
- The Poppy Parade
- Ypres War Victims Monument
- The Market Square: Grote Markt
- Special 11.00 Hours Last Post Ceremony, Menin Gate
- Tea from TOC H Belgium
- Armistice Day Annual Concert Concert: The Great War Remembered
Armistice Day Events & Timings
For the times of the annual events outlined below and other specific events relating to Armistice Day on 11 November 2026 in Ieper/Ypres see our events page at:
Royal British Legion Flanders' Field of Poppies
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In 2008 The Royal British Legion invited supporters and members of the public to dedicate a poppy with a written message, which was then planted along with thousands of other poppies to create a Flanders Field of Poppies for the anniversary of Armistice Day on the ramparts next to the Menin Gate Memorial.
Since then this Act of Remembrance has been repeated in Ypres each 11 November. On 10 November the cardboard poppies will be planted by members of the Royal British Legion, Last Post Association and students.
For information about this Act of Remembrance and how to become a supporter of the Royal British Legion see the page on the Royal British Legion website at:
Website: www.britishlegion.org.uk Flanders Field of Poppies
St. George's Church Remembrance Day Service
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An early morning service is held in St. George's Memorial Church on 11 November before the Special Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate. Due to the demand for places at this service, attendance is by ticket only. Tickets can be applied for from St. George's Church.
Following the service in St. Georges' Church, VIPs and congregation are welcome to join The Poppy Parade which forms up outside the church.
Information about St. George's Memorial Church website can be found on the website:
Website: www.stgeorgesmemorialchurchypres.com
St. Martin's Cathedral Remembrance Day Service
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A service takes place (in Flemish) in St. Martin's Cathedral.
Parades Form Up: Vandenpeereboomplein
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The parading Standards, bands, military and Fire Brigade representatives form up in the square called the Vandenpeereboomplein by St. George's Memorial Church and St. Martin's Cathedral.
The Poppy Parade
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The Poppy Parade is open to all to take part.
Everyone wishing to join The Poppy Parade is invited to form up in the Vandepeereboomplein square.
The Idea
The idea for The Poppy Parade originated in 1988. It was the idea of the late Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Graham Parker, OBE; it takes its inspiration from Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae's poem “In Flanders Fields”, which was believed to have been written close to Ypres in May 1915.
After the Armistice Day ceremony on 11 November 1988 Graham met an Australian lady at the Menin Gate memorial. She had travelled from Australia to pay her respects to a relative who had fallen in the Ypres Salient. She was looking at the poppy wreaths. She told Graham how moved she was to have attended the morning service at St. George's Memorial Church. However, she was disappointed to find that when she had walked from the church to the Menenstraat she could not make her way through the crowds to get close to the Menin Gate for the 11.00 hours ceremony.
This inspired Graham, who assisted on the Special Events Committee for Ypres, to develop an idea to be able to offer members of the public with an opportunity to participate in the formal ceremony. As a former British Army officer with 32 years' experience in 'Movement Control' his expertise was moving people from A to B. He proposed the formation of a new parade made up of members of the public. The new parade would march in ranks of four. It would depart from the square by St. George's Memorial Church and St. Martin's Cathedral, march to The Menin Gate memorial, pass through the arch of the memorial respectfully and securely, and take its place in a specially allocated area at the eastern side of the Memorial.
Graham considered also that everyone joining this parade could, if they wished, carry a symbol of Remembrance - a poppy - to the Menin Gate. The significance of the poppy was deeply personal for him. In 1962 he had picked a poppy near his uncle's grave on the Somme battlefield. That moment had started his long relationship with the men and women of the 1914-1918 war. Graham preserved that delicate poppy in a frame. Over the years the poppy faded, but, for Graham, the powerful memory of that visit never did. In tribute to the poppies featured in Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae's poem “In Flanders Fields” Graham had an idea to offer a poppy petal to participants in this new parade. On reaching the Menin Gate the petals would be placed in a special basket. During the ceremony the same petals would be released from the roof of the memorial in remembrance of the fallen.
The first Poppy Parade took place on 11 November 1989. Participants carried poppy petals to the Menin Gate. During the Minutes' Silence in the ceremony the petals were released from the roof of the memorial. It was a breathtaking moment for everyone who was there. Since that first occasion The Poppy Parade has been an integral part of the Armistice Day ceremony in Ieper/Ypres. It continues to be organized and stewarded by volunteers.
Carry a Poppy Petal
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Everyone participating in The Poppy Parade is invited, if they wish, to receive a Poppy Petal. The Poppy Parade forms up in the Vandenpeereboomplein square near to St. George's Memorial Church and St. Martin's Cathedral. The parade Marches Off ahead of the main parade of bands and Standards. The Poppy Parade makes its way to The Menin Gate Memorial, usually led by United Kingdom Air Cadets and bands of the Fire and Rescue Services.
On reaching The Menin Gate Memorial the Poppy Petals are collected in special baskets.
During the 11.00 hours Last Post ceremony the Poppy Petals carried by The Poppy Parade are released from the roof of the Menin Gate. This is a very special moment which has become an integral part of the annual ceremony at the Menin Gate.
Wreath Layers
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Members of the public and those representing military or civilian associations wishing to lay a wreath are recommended to join The Poppy Parade.
On arriving at The Menin Gate Memorial wreath layers are directed where to stand in an designated area at the memorial. Due to high numbers of wreath layers attending the ceremony the organisers require that companions of wreath layers are directed to stand with the main Poppy Parade group on the east side of the Menin Gate.
Marching Off
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At 10.20 hours The Poppy Parade marches off from the Vandenpeereboomplein square, led by UK cadet units and bands of the Fire and Rescue Services.
The parades of Standards, bands and VIPs then march off.
The parades make their way to the Menin Gate Memorial for the 11 o'clock Special Last Post Ceremony.
Ypres War Victims Monument
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The Poppy Parade passes the Ypres War Victims Monument where wreaths are laid.
The parade turns left at the corner of The Cloth Hall and makes its way along the south side of the market square, passing the Cloth Hall.
The Market Square: Grote Markt
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Over the last few years the number of people attending the ceremony has grown significantly. Nowadays it is not unusual to see crowds of hundreds of people lining the route of the parade.
For this reason the Last Post Association and the city of Ypres are responsible for the arrangements to ensure the smooth-running of the event and for the safety of all those attending.
The market square (Grote Markt) and Menenstraat are closed to vehicles during the morning, enabling visitors to move around on foot in a safe pedestrianized zone.
Market Square Projection Screen
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Space under the Menin Gate is limited to invited guests, ceremony participants and wreath layers during the ceremony. The organizers of the ceremony therefore set up a large projection screen on the market square so that everyone has the opportunity to watch and listen to the music and words of the ceremony as it takes place.
Menenstraat
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The Poppy Parade continues along the south side of the market square into Menenstraat, followed by the main parade of military personnel, Standards and bands.
Passing along Menenstraat the parades make their way to The Menin Gate Memorial.
The Parades Arrive
The Poppy Parade Poppy Petals Collected
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As The Poppy Parade reaches The Menin Gate Memorial the Poppy Petals carried by those in this parade are collected in special baskets.
People carrying wreaths to be laid during the ceremony are directed where to stand in a reserved area for wreath layers.
The Poppy Parade passes through the Menin Gate and is halted at the eastern side of The Menin Gate in a specially reserved area.
Parade of Bands & Standards Arrive
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The parade of bands and Standards follows on, arriving at The Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing and taking their places for the special 11 o'clock Ceremony of Remembrance.
For many years the band of the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service Ceremonial Unit has played a key role in the ceremony, wearing distinctive white helmets and immaculately turned out in their uniforms. There is a strong relationship between members of fire and rescue services and the Last Post Association, the buglers of which are all serving or ex-serving volunteer firemen.
Special 11.00 Hours Last Post Ceremony, Menin Gate
The Service of Remembrance
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The ceremony usually lasts for about 45 minutes; it includes short speeches (in Flemish and English), prayers, hymns, a choir, wreath laying, a Minute's Silence, release of the Poppy Petals, The Last Post and Réveille.
The ceremony is attended by representatives of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, Belgian and other nations' Armed Forces, local dignitaries, invited guests, ambassadors, members of the clergy, representatives of United Kingdom Fire & Rescue Services, Royal British Legion Standard bearers, ex-Service organizations, Friends of the Last Post Association, and members of The Western Front Association.
Wreath Laying: Official Wreaths
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During the service official wreaths are laid.
Wreath Laying: Members of the Public
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Members of the public are welcome to lay a wreath, for example, to a family member, on behalf of a military unit, organization, school or college.
If you wish to do this you can contact The Last Post Association for details of timings and the ceremony (see link below).
Members and Committee members of The Last Post Association attend the 11.00 hours ceremony to organize and marshal those participating in the parades and those people laying wreaths.
Falling Poppy Petals
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During the Minute's Silence in the ceremony the Poppy Petals carried to the Menin Gate Memorial by The Poppy Parade are released from the roof of the memorial.
Instigated in 1989 by the late Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Graham Parker, OBE as a feature of The Poppy Parade, this has become a very special and memorable part of the annual ceremony at the Menin Gate Memorial.
“Last Post”
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Buglers of The Last Post Association play the “Last Post” bugle call.
The sounding of Last Post is played at military funerals and occasions of Remembrance. This bugle call originates from the tradition of sounding a bugle call at particular times of the day throughout a soldier's day in the British Army. The “Last Post” was the final bugle call of the day sounded at the final sentry post inspection, signalling the end of the day and that all men should be back in their billets.
Parade Marches Off
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As the ceremony draws to a close the bands, Standards, Last Post Buglers and units on parade March Off.
Tea from TOC H Belgium
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During the morning and after the ceremony at The Menin Gate volunteers of TOC H Belgium distribute fresh cups of tea on the market square (Grote Markt) of Ypres next to the Cloth Hall.
Toc H (Talbot House) was a house in Poperinge, behind the Lines of the Ypres Salient battlefields, set up as an Everyman's Club, where rank could be put aside at the front door and an urn of tea was always on the go.
For more information about TOC H (Talbot House) see our page at:
Armistice Day Annual Concert: The Great War Remembered
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The Great War Remembered concert, organized by The Last Post Association in St. Martin's Cathedral, has been an annual feature of the Armistice Day commemorations in Ypres/Ieper since 2004. The concert includes music and readings with bands, choirs, soloists and the Buglers of The Last Post Association.
For more information about the concert, photos from previous years and pre-registration for future years see the Last Post Association website:
Website: lastpost.be/concert/
Related Topics
“In Flanders Fields”
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Read the poem and find out about why John McCrae was inspired to write these now famous words.
Inspiration for In Flanders Fields
Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate Memorial
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For information about the daily Last Post ceremony, and how you can participate if you wish to lay a wreath, see the website for The Last Post Association at:
Website: lastpost.be/ceremony
For information about the Menin Gate Memorial see our page:
Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing
Visiting the Ypres Salient
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For information about battlefield sites to visit, cemeteries, memorials and visitor accommodation see our page at: