Lijssenthoek Project

Some of the 10,755 identified graves in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery.
Lijssenthoek Visitor Centre.
Lijssenthoek Visitor Centre.

A major project was started in June 2009 to establish a new Visitor Centre at the site of the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. The centre is located at the north-eastern side of the cemetery and was opened in September 2012.

The project has been funded by grants from the Flemish Government and the town of Poperinge. Other partners participating in the scheme include:

The focus of the Visitors' Centre is research into the medical services and the story of how the wounded were treated following their injuries in the battle area and brought to a safe haven behind the lines. Many thousands did not survive their wounds and they were buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. These casualties did not make it to the Base Hospitals or to their homes.

The Search for Personal Stories

The Photo Wall in the Lijssenthoek Visitor Centre.
Photo Wall.

As part of the project the search is on for personal stories of those who are buried in the cemetery. If you have a relative or anyone known to you who is buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery and you have any documents, letters, photographs, diaries and stories you are warmly invited to get in touch!

Website: www.lijssenthoek.be Contact

Lijssenthoek Project Archives: Visitor Information

The archives, stories and donations of photographs, letters, books and documents are held at the Lijssenthoek Visitor Centre. Admission is free.

Opening Hours

Open daily from 09.00 to 18.00 hours.

Contact Details

Visitor Centre, Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Boescheepseweg 35A, 8970 Poperinge, Belgium

Website: www.lijssenthoek.be

Location of Lijssenthoek Visitor Centre

Latitude N 50° 83' 00.48" ; Longitude E 2° 70' 20.14"

The Lijssenthoek Project Archive is situated in the Visitor Centre. It is located next to the Lijsssenthoek Military Cemetery and signposted from the N38 (Frans-Vlaanderenweg) road. This road runs between the French-numbered D948 road from Callicannes on the French-Belgian border, where it becomes the Belgian-numbered road N38 to Poperinge. The Visitor Centre and cemetery lie on the east side of the N38.

Following directions at the green Commonwealth War Graves Commission signpost, turn off the N38 take the side road for about 200 metres. Turn right into Boescheepseweg and continue for approximately 1.5 kilometres. This is a narrow road and care should be taken when getting in and out of vehicles as passing traffic is infrequent but may be fast.

There is parking for cars, coaches and minibuses at the Visitor Centre.

The N38 can be rejoined again by continuing southwards along the Boescheepseweg for approximately 1.5 kilometres. Take the first right turn into the lane called Lyssenthoek and the N38 will be reached within 1 kilometre.

Related Topics

Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery near Poperinge, Belgium.
Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery near Poperinge, Belgium.

Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery

Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery

Lijssenthoek Visitor Centre

Lijssenthoek Visitor Centre

Lijssenthoek Project Partners

For information about the organizations working in partnership with the Lijssenthoek Project:

Talbot House (Toc H), Poperinge

In Flanders Fields Museum, Ypres - Ieper

Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, Zonnebeke

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Acknowledgements

Photographs of the Visitor Centre courtesy of Lijssenthoek Project & Visitor Centre.