De Panne municipal cemetery

De Panne municipal cemetery is one of the most significant sites of remembrance on the Belgian coast, tucked away in the Duinhoek district on the eastern edge of town. It's far more than an ordinary town cemetery — alongside the graves of local residents lies one of Belgium's largest military burial grounds, spanning both World Wars.

How did the military section come to exist?

The story begins in January 1918. Until then, soldiers who died in the field hospitals scattered around the area were buried mainly at the nearby military cemetery in Adinkerke, but that site was quickly running out of space. De Panne's authorities responded by establishing a new cemetery in the Duinhoek area, with separate civilian and military sections. The timing proved necessary: by the end of 1919, the cemetery already held nearly 1,500 graves. Through the 1920s it took on the role of a consolidation site, receiving remains transferred from smaller, closed-down burial grounds in the surrounding region, while some families chose to have their relatives repatriated elsewhere.

How many war graves are there?

The scale is remarkable for a town the size of De Panne. More than 3,400 Belgian graves from the First World War rest here (several hundred of them unidentified), along with several hundred more from the Second World War — making this the largest Belgian military cemetery anywhere. Alongside the Belgian graves lie those of Commonwealth servicemen, mostly from the Second World War but with a small number from the First, as well as Czechoslovak and French war graves from 1939–1945.

Who else is buried here?

Beyond the military graves, the cemetery also holds the remains of political prisoners who died in German concentration camps during the Second World War. In 1989, the ashes of unnamed prisoners from nine different concentration camps were placed in a dedicated tomb — a symbolic gesture honouring victims whose identities could never be established.

What does the military section look like today?

The military section follows the sober, orderly style typical of cemeteries from this era: rows of uniform white headstones, carefully maintained lawns, and central memorials dedicated to particular nationalities and units. This contrasts with the civilian part of the cemetery, where the grave markers are more varied and follow the traditional style seen across Belgian municipal cemeteries.

Why is it worth a visit?

De Panne's cemetery rarely makes it onto the coast's list of tourist "must-sees," yet it's one of the most important First World War memorial sites in this part of Belgium. De Panne remained one of the last strips of the country never occupied by German forces, and it served as a rear-area hospital hub for the Yser front. For anyone interested in 20th-century history or military heritage, or simply looking for a quiet, reflective place away from the beach crowds, half an hour here is time well spent. Entry is free and the grounds are open to the public year-round.

Frequently asked questions

Is the cemetery open to visitors? Yes, the grounds are open to the public free of charge, without the fixed opening hours typical of museums.

Is this the only military cemetery near De Panne? No — the nearby town of Adinkerke has an older military cemetery, which was the original burial site before the De Panne cemetery was established.

Which nationalities are represented here? Mostly Belgian, but also Commonwealth servicemen, along with Czechoslovak and French war graves from the Second World War.