Lindenhoek Chalet Military Cemetery

Lindenhoek Chalet Military Cemetery is a small First World War burial ground in the municipality of Heuvelland, roughly 9 km south-west of Ypres town centre, on a road leading from the Kemmelseweg (N331) toward Kemmel. The site sits in the quiet, rural landscape of West Flanders, an area that a century ago was one of the deadliest stretches of the Western Front.

Where does the cemetery's name come from?

The name refers to a nearby house — "Lindenhoek Chalet" — which served as a landmark for Allied troops stationed in the area during the war. Naming cemeteries after neighbouring farms or buildings was common practice for burial grounds established close to the front line or its immediate rear areas.

When was the cemetery established and who is buried there?

The first burials took place in March 1915. The cemetery continued to be used by fighting units and field ambulances until October 1917, spanning several of the key engagements fought around Kemmel and the hills surrounding Ypres. After the Armistice, as the battlefields were cleared, more than a hundred graves were brought in from the surrounding ground where the fighting had taken place.

Today the cemetery holds the graves or commemorates the memory of 315 First World War servicemen. Of these, 67 burials remain unidentified; special memorials mark the graves of six casualties who are known or believed to be buried among the unidentified dead.

Who designed the cemetery?

The layout was designed by Charles Holden, one of the architects who worked with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (then the Imperial War Graves Commission) on the hundreds of war cemeteries built across France and Belgium after the First World War. Holden's designs, like those of his contemporaries, favoured simplicity, symmetry and a calm, contemplative atmosphere.

Is the site accessible?

Because of the terrain and the layout of the paths, wheelchair access to the cemetery is not possible. Visitors planning a trip through the Heuvelland area and around Kemmel should factor this into their route.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the cemetery located? On a road off the Kemmelseweg (N331) connecting Ypres and Kemmel, in the municipality of Heuvelland, about 9 km from Ypres town centre.

What period do the burials cover? From March 1915 to October 1917, with additional graves brought in from nearby battlefields after the war ended.

How many people are buried here? 315 First World War servicemen, including 67 unidentified burials.

Who designed the cemetery? Charles Holden, an architect involved in the post-war commemoration of the fallen in Flanders.

Is the cemetery wheelchair accessible? No — the terrain makes wheelchair access impossible.