Cycling through the stories of the Great War

Bart visited the beautiful Westhoek with his girlfriend Katrien to discover the 14-18 Western Front Route over a two-day period. The idyllic Western Front Route with its pitch-black history takes cyclists through the reconstructed front landscape of World War I. The 14-18 Western Front Route stretches between Nieuwpoort and Mesen and takes in a long line of remembrance trees, military cemeteries, memorials, trenches, monuments, and so on. 

Pedalling along, you get an insight into the strategic role that this West Flanders landscape played in wartime. The dozens of imposing military cemeteries provide a stark reminder of so many thousands of squandered young lives.

08/15/24 - 08/16/24

14-18 Western Front Route

135km

Holiday cyclist

By Bart Caers

As seen (in Dutch) at caersbart.be
An ‘old school’ adventurer in his late forties, who enthusiastically documents his outdoor adventures - both on foot and by bicycle - in his inspiring blog caersbart.be

Day 1: Mesen – Poelkappele

60km

Day 2: Poelkapelle - Oostende

75km

Bart and Katrien took the train from Antwerp Central Station to Komen. From there, it is not far to the 14-18 Western Front Route.
To return to Antwerp Central Station at the end of their trip, they took the train from Ostend. All together, they cycled an extra 30 km.
The Western Front Route can be cycled in both directions and is fully signposted. So you can choose where you want to start and/or finish.

Would you like to cycle the route Bart and Katrien took?

Then download the GPX with the approach route from Komen and the end in Ostend.
Or you can also plan your own cycling holiday using our route planner and search for suitable accommodation along the way.

Cycling through the stories of the Great War

Day 1: Mesen – Poelkappele

Day 2: Poelkapelle - Oostende

Practical information

Would you like to cycle the route Bart and Katrien took?