Attend the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate, Ypres
At 8pm every evening, traffic stops beneath the Menin Gate in Ypres and volunteer buglers sound the Last Post. It is short, free and open to anyone, but it is not something to treat as another item to tick off before dinner. Stand on the indicated pavements, arrive early enough not to be jostling for a view, and allow the silence to do its work. The ceremony commemorates the soldiers of the British Empire who died in the Ypres Salient and have no known grave. There is no booking for the ordinary nightly ceremony, although the Last Post Association publishes a calendar showing whether a wreath-laying, band, choir or other participation is planned. On busy dates, particularly around 11 November, expect a crowd and give yourself more time. It is a good reason to make Ypres the centre of a weekend rather than a hurried detour from Bruges. The Menin Gate is a short walk from the Grote Markt, and the Last Post Association has the current ceremony guidance. Check its advice before travelling, arrive respectfully and do not applaud during or after the ceremony.