Houthulst: Windmill, Remembrance and Routes

Houthulst brings together memories of mills and war with viewpoints, waterways and designated routes. The Vredesmolen and the Belgian Military Cemetery offer different perspectives on history and remembrance; Knokkebrug and Drie Grachten draw attention to fort remains and the waterside landscape. There are also cycling and walking routes, as well as an annual landscape festival.

Windmill and places of remembrance

The Vredesmolen is a stone windmill dating from 1879 and a quiet witness to the First World War in the Westhoek. Following a thorough restoration, it was converted into a viewing point. From there, the panorama stretches across historic battlefields and the hilly landscape around the mill. Its year of construction and wartime connection tell stories from different periods: the mill dates from the 19th century and is also associated with the history of the First World War. The view complements this historical perspective with the landscape visible from the viewing point.

The Belgian Military Cemetery is located on the edge of Houthulst Forest and was established after the First World War. It is one of 27 sites included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In addition, the municipality of Houthulst holds an annual commemoration there around 28 September. If you would like to plan your visit around the ceremony, check the specific event dates.

Other historical themes offer their own distinct focus. The Lourdes Grotto is the first grotto in Belgium dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. In Merkem, in 2011, the Beukelaremolen was the only surviving mill that was still in operation. Alongside themes of war and remembrance, you can therefore encounter a religious dedication and the history of a mill.

Viewpoints and waterside landscape

The Knokkebrug viewing tower offers a view of the remains of the star-shaped fort “De Knocke” on one side, and of the course of the IJzer and the floodable “broeken” on the other. The fort remains and river landscape thus appear as distinct features of the view. At Drie Grachten, three waterways meet: the Martjevaart, the Ieperlee and the Ieper-IJzer Canal. Their names make the confluence tangible and offer another way to explore Houthulst’s landscape, this time through its waterways rather than from a viewpoint.

Routes and activities

“Houthulst op z’n Zondags” is an annual landscape festival. Visitors can discover Houthulst’s hidden highlights on foot or by bicycle. As no specific event dates are given, it is helpful to check the schedule if you would like to include the festival in your plans.

Different details are relevant when comparing the routes. The signposted Vrijbosfietsroute starts in Houthulst and passes through Staden, Kortemark and Hooglede. The Heuvelpad is a 7.5 km walking and cycling route in and around Klerken, a sub-municipality of Houthulst. For the first route, the key point is that it passes through several towns; for the Heuvelpad, the stated details are its length and its connection to Klerken. The Vrijbosfietsroute passes through several towns, while the Heuvelpad is a 7.5 km route in and around Klerken.

The Vrijetijdscampus has a technical course that is popular with off-road cyclists and is freely accessible from sunrise to sunset. If you plan to visit the course, check this access condition in advance. The activity “Vrijbos op stelten” involves finding the right way, answering questions and possibly solving the puzzle. A technical course, a navigation activity with questions and a signposted cycling route therefore each have a clearly different focus.

Discover more destinations: Merkem, De Panne, Oostende, Koksijde-Bad, Avelgem, Zwevegem, Wingene, Waregem.

For the overview of the wider region: West Flanders.