Westhof Farm Cemetery

Westhof Farm Cemetery is a small First World War cemetery in the municipality of Heuvelland, standing beside the road that links Ieper (Ypres) with the village of Nieuwkerke, roughly 13.5 km south of Ieper's town centre. Set among the quiet farmland of West Flanders, away from the busiest memorial routes, it has a distinctly intimate, low-key atmosphere.

Where does the cemetery's name come from?

The name comes from the nearby Westhof Farm, which served as headquarters for the New Zealand Division during May and June 1917, while the division was engaged in fighting around Kemmel and Ieper. The cemetery was established in the fields around this farm and has kept the same name ever since.

When was it established and who is buried here?

The cemetery was begun in May 1917. It was used by fighting units and field ambulances until April 1918, when the ground fell into German hands for five months during the German spring offensive. Today the cemetery holds the graves of, or commemorates, 131 Commonwealth servicemen from the First World War. Among them are special memorials to six casualties whose graves were destroyed by shell fire during the fighting — their remains could not be recovered or identified after the war, so they are honoured here symbolically rather than with individual marked graves. The cemetery also contains five German war graves, an unusual feature for a site maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), reflecting how control of this small piece of ground changed hands during the conflict.

What does the cemetery look like today?

Westhof Farm Cemetery is maintained by the CWGC in the organisation's characteristic style: orderly rows of uniform white headstones, closely trimmed lawns, and the restrained stone features typical of war cemeteries designed after the First World War. It is modest in scale compared with the large cemeteries closer to Ieper, which gives visitors space to take in the individual stories of the men buried here without the crowds found at larger sites. The cemetery is permanently open to visitors, with no set opening hours.

Why visit?

Westhof Farm Cemetery appeals to visitors interested in the history of the Ypres Salient who want to move beyond the best-known and most heavily visited cemeteries, such as Tyne Cot. Its proximity to Kemmel and Nieuwkerke makes it easy to combine with other nearby memorial sites, and the peaceful, rural setting of Heuvelland lends the visit a reflective quality.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the cemetery located? Beside the Kemmelseweg (N331), the road connecting Ieper with Kemmel and Nieuwkerke, about 13.5 km south of Ieper.

How many people are buried here? 131 Commonwealth servicemen from the First World War, plus 5 German war graves.

Is the cemetery open to the public? Yes, it is open year-round and free to visit.

Who maintains the cemetery? The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).