Museums
In Flanders Fields Museum
A great museum in my opinion, with a modern approach, not to everyone's liking however I have heard a vast range of opinions, so I think perhaps you should find out for yourself, personally I feel that a visit is not complete with at least a tour of the museum and it's fantastic shop!
Poperinge Talbot House and WW1 executions
www.talbothouse.be/en/
Visit Talbot House you will not regret it, a fantastic new extension really helps to flesh out your understanding of the purpose of the house, also a nice little shop with lots nice items!
Poperinge Town Hall
After your visit to Talbot House stroll down to the main square and make sure that you visit the Town Hall inner courtyard, here you will find the condemned mans cell and an execution post in the actual courtyard, not sure of opening times however the cell has been open every time I have been there, an extremely moving experience often overlooked by visitors.
Hooge Crater Museum 1914 ~1918
Hooge Crater Museum 1914 ~ 1918
A brilliant museum and bar, directly opposite the very moving Hooge Crater cemetery which contains 5,923 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War, including Pte Bugden VC, half of the burials here are unidentified.
Hooge crater is the site of the famous battle of Hooge and the first use of 'Liquid Fire'.
Hooge Crater Museum is now owned by a young friendly and welcoming couple called Niek and Ilse who have taken the Museum/Bar from Roger and Rosita who have retired after 15 years.
The Bar has been updated but still has the same charm it has always had, the museum collection is a 'Must See', no visit to Ieper is complete without a visit to this bar/museum.
At the end of your visit to the museum what better then to sample one of the numerous Belgian beers on offer or perhaps a light lunch?
Ramparts Museum and Bar
www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Camp/4403/KleinRijsel.html
This is by far my favourite bar, a great museum attached round the back and covered in WW1 paraphernalia. Great beers and run by a lovely Lady called Fabien. After your beer visit the Ramparts Cemetery by far the most romantic/picturesque (I feel) on the Salient.
WW1 Original Art
David Cohen Fine Art
David has an exceptional range of original WW1 fine art for sale, anything from trench art to oil paintings can be purchased, there is something for every budget.
Also the customer service is outstanding!!
Fabulous WW1 & WW2 Photo Archives:
www.bild.bundesarchiv.de/topicsearch.php
A great site with the other angle on the two wars, see Arnhem for instance from the German perspective.
Pubs of Interest
By far the best bars (in my opinion!):
De 12 Apostels:
www.kaffeede12apostels.be/main.php
Very good bar. great indy atmosphere, loads of church furniture sculptures and paintings, by far the most bohemian bar in Ieper.
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WW2 Recommendations
WW2 Talk
www.ww2talk.com/forum/
A fantastic forum with some really useful and interesting threads also veterans who post online. If you need help with a uniform I.D or understanding where relative may have served then this is the site for friendly intelligent help, having said that they are not at all stuffy!
Artist's who have inspired me: Edward Ardizzone & Rembrandt
I love Edwards work, you can see his war diary here: Diary of a War Artist and a website dedicated to him here: .edwardardizzone.
My first hero is Rembrandt van Rijn, selection of the great mans prints & paintings can be seen here:
http://www.rembrandtpainting.net/
Some beautiful work here, take some time out to look at the 'drawing' section particularly the very quick images look at the economy of line and how so few strokes of the pencil can say so much ~ brilliant!
