The IJzer tower

panorama made with photosynth

After breakfast we took a bus towards Diksmuide to visit the IJzer tower. We learned about this war memorial and the Flemish struggle for equality and freedom.

This panorama photo is taken on top of the 85 m tower. In WW I the landscape looked very different - the Belgian king and government in the attempt to halt the German army flooded the IJzer plane - it turned into a swamp that did stop the army. Both armies dug in...

After leaving the tower we took a short boat ride to the Dodengang (The Death trench).
We walked in these trenches and tried to imagine what life would have been like for the soldiers...