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Last Post Ceremony

Menin Gate, Ypres — daily at 20:00

Last Post Ceremony - Menin Gate, Ypres

Event Details

Detail Information
Event The Last Post Ceremony
Location Menin Gate Memorial, Meensestraat, Ypres
Time 20:00 daily (every evening, 365 days a year)
Duration Approximately 15 minutes
Cost Free
Ceremony type War memorial tribute

About the Ceremony

Every evening at exactly 20:00, traffic is halted beneath the Menin Gate and buglers from the Ypres Fire Brigade sound the Last Post in tribute to the fallen. This moving tradition has continued almost unbroken since 11 November 1928.

The Menin Gate Memorial

The Menin Gate is one of the most iconic war memorials in the world. The names of more than 54,000 officers and men of the British Empire whose graves are not known are inscribed on its panels.

Historical Significance

The Last Post is a bugle call traditionally used at British military funerals and acts of remembrance. The daily ceremony at the Menin Gate is a solemn act of gratitude to those who gave their lives for Belgium’s freedom in the First World War.

Continuity

The ceremony has taken place every evening since 1928, with only one break:

  • During the German occupation (1940-1944), the ceremony was held at Brookwood Military Cemetery in Surrey, England
  • On the very evening Ypres was liberated (6 September 1944), the ceremony resumed at the Menin Gate

Practical Information

Timing

  • Ceremony time: 20:00 sharp
  • Recommended arrival: 19:15-19:30 for a good viewing position
  • Peak season (summer): Arrive 30-45 minutes early (18:45-19:15)
  • Traffic stops: At exactly 20:00
  • Ceremony ends: Approximately 20:15

Location & Access

  • Address: Meensestraat, 8900 Ieper (eastern edge of town centre)
  • From Urban Gardens Ieper campsite: 15-minute walk
  • From Grote Markt (Market Square): 5-minute walk

Parking

  • Recommended: Grote Markt (Market Square) car park
  • Walking distance: 5 minutes to Menin Gate
  • Alternative: Park at campsite and walk (15 minutes)
  • Note: Streets around Menin Gate closed to traffic during ceremony

What to Expect

The Ceremony Format

  1. 19:55-20:00 - Final arrivals, crowd gathers
  2. 20:00 - Traffic is halted
  3. 20:00 - Buglers take position under the arch
  4. 20:00-20:05 - The Last Post is sounded
  5. 20:05-20:10 - Silence, wreath-laying (if scheduled)
  6. 20:10 - Exhortation (on special occasions)
  7. 20:10-20:15 - Dispersal begins

Viewing Positions

Best positions:

  • Directly under the arch (limited space)
  • On the steps leading up to the memorial
  • Either side of the road beneath the gate

Arrive early for:

  • Prime position under the arch
  • Steps with good view
  • Avoiding standing at the back of crowds

Atmosphere

  • Deeply moving and respectful
  • Hundreds attend in peak season
  • Very quiet during the ceremony
  • Emotional for many visitors
  • British, Commonwealth, and international visitors

Important Guidelines

Etiquette

  • ✓ Arrive in good time
  • ✓ Remain silent during the ceremony
  • ✓ Stand still and respectful
  • ✓ Remove hats
  • ✓ Photography is permitted (no flash)
  • ✗ Do not talk during the ceremony
  • ✗ Do not use flash photography
  • ✗ Do not leave until the ceremony concludes

Photography

  • Photography is permitted
  • No flash permitted
  • Be discreet and respectful
  • Best photos from the sides or steps
  • Consider putting camera away to simply experience the moment

What to Wear

  • No specific dress code
  • Many visitors dress smartly out of respect
  • Comfortable shoes (you may be standing for 30+ minutes)
  • Weather-appropriate clothing (ceremony held in all weather)

Special Occasions

Wreath-Laying

On many evenings, organisations, schools, or individuals lay wreaths during the ceremony. This adds extra solemnity and may extend the duration slightly.

Major Commemorations

On significant anniversaries (e.g., Armistice Day, ANZAC Day), the ceremony may be extended with additional elements:

  • Military bands
  • Larger buglers’ contingent
  • Reading of the Exhortation
  • Extended silence
  • Much larger crowds

Your Visit (May-June 2026)

May-June is peak tourist season. Expect:

  • Larger crowds than winter months
  • Need to arrive earlier (30-45 minutes before)
  • Warm evening weather (likely)
  • Still deeply moving despite crowds

Planning Your Visit

Night 1 (Day 1 of Ypres itinerary):

  • First experience of the ceremony
  • After visiting In Flanders Fields Museum
  • Sets the tone for the following days

Night 2 or 3:

  • Consider attending a second time
  • Each ceremony is unique
  • Deeper appreciation on repeat visit
  • Different crowd and atmosphere each evening

Before the Ceremony

Same day:

  • Visit In Flanders Fields Museum (enhances understanding)
  • Walk around the town ramparts
  • Read some of the names on the memorial panels

Immediately before:

  • Arrive early to read names on the panels
  • 54,000+ names inscribed on the walls
  • Find specific names if researching family history
  • Take time to absorb the scale of loss

After the Ceremony

Immediately after:

  • Many visitors linger to read names and reflect
  • Panels are illuminated in evening
  • Good opportunity for photos (respectfully)

Evening:

  • Short walk back to campsite (15 minutes)
  • Quiet reflection time
  • Restaurants in town if preferred

Weather Considerations

All-Weather Event

  • The ceremony takes place every evening regardless of weather
  • Rain, snow, wind - the buglers always attend
  • Bring umbrella if rain forecast
  • Waterproof jacket recommended May-June
  • Can be chilly even in summer once sun sets

Seasonal Notes (May-June)

  • Sunset: Approximately 21:30-22:00
  • Temperature: Mild to warm (10-20°C in evening)
  • Daylight: Ceremony in daylight or twilight
  • Weather: Generally dry, but can be changeable

Accessibility

Physical Access

  • The memorial is at ground level
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Cobbled streets approaching the gate
  • Steps available but not necessary for viewing

Hearing

  • The Last Post is played by buglers (loud and clear)
  • No amplification
  • Can be heard clearly throughout the area

Additional Information

The Last Post Association

The ceremony is organised by the Last Post Association, a voluntary organisation dedicated to honouring the memory of those who died in the Ypres Salient.

Website: lastpost.be

Special Events

The Association also organises:

  • Great War Remembered Concert (annual)
  • Special anniversary commemorations
  • Check website for 2026 events

Donations

  • The ceremony is free
  • Donations to the Last Post Association are welcome
  • Help maintain this remarkable tradition
  • Collection boxes may be available

Historical Context

The Menin Road

During the war, the Menin Gate (then Menin Road gate in the town ramparts) was the route taken by thousands of British and Commonwealth soldiers heading to the front line battlefields east of Ypres. Many never returned.

Why the Menin Gate?

Of the 54,000 names on the memorial, all:

  • Died in the Ypres Salient
  • Have no known grave
  • Died before 16 August 1917

Those who died after that date and have no known grave are commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

The Architect

The Menin Gate Memorial was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and unveiled on 24 July 1927 by Field Marshal Lord Plumer.

Quick Reference

When: Every evening at 20:00 Where: Menin Gate, Meensestraat, Ypres Cost: Free Duration: 15 minutes Arrive: 19:15-19:30 (earlier in peak season) Etiquette: Silent, respectful, no flash photography Distance from campsite: 15-minute walk

Document created: 31 December 2025 Source: Last Post Association, CWGC, personal research