Yorkshire Trench & Dug-Out

Yorkshire Trench & Dug-Out is a reconstructed section of First World War British trenches located in Boezinge, just north of Ypres, in the area historically known as the Ypres Salient. Sitting at the edge of the town, it is one of the few surviving trench systems that visitors can actually walk through rather than only see in archival photographs.

How was the site discovered?

The story behind the site is almost as remarkable as the trench itself. In 1992, a farmer working a field near Bargiestraat stumbled upon the entrance to a British underground dugout. The find drew the attention of a group of amateur archaeologists known as "The Diggers," led by Patrick Van Wanzeele. Between 1998 and 2000, the group carried out extensive excavation work, uncovering not just the trench line but also tunnelled dugouts beneath it.

What lies beneath the surface?

The excavations revealed two overlapping trench lines from different periods of the war. The shallower one dated to 1915 and was dug in the aftermath of the fighting that followed the first-ever poison gas attack, launched by German forces on 22 April 1915. This section of the front line was initially held by French troops before passing into British hands on 5 June 1915. The second, far better preserved line dates from 1917 and served as a headquarters position for the 13th and 16th Battalions of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers during the Third Battle of Ypres. The position was abandoned once the first phase of that major British offensive had concluded.

During the dig, "The Diggers" recovered the remains of 155 First World War soldiers — British, French and German — killed in action and left unrecovered for seventy years. Alongside the human remains, the team uncovered a wide range of artefacts, personal effects and equipment that today offer a tangible link to the daily reality of trench warfare.

What can visitors see today?

In August 2002, "The Diggers" restored roughly 70 metres of trench together with the entrances to the underground dugouts. Much of the reconstruction reused the original wooden A-frames that once supported the trench walls, while the walkways and thousands of sandbags were newly added, following the historical layout as closely as possible. Walking through the narrow, deep passages gives visitors a direct sense of the cramped and difficult conditions soldiers endured on the Western Front.

The site is open daily from sunrise to sunset, and admission is free. There is no ticket office or gift shop here — it remains a raw, unadorned memorial site, free of the commercial trappings found at some of the region's larger battlefield attractions.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee? No, visiting Yorkshire Trench & Dug-Out is completely free of charge.

How long does a visit take? Given the compact size of the site (about 70 metres of reconstructed trench), a visit typically takes 20 to 30 minutes.

Is the site open all year round? Yes, the trench is accessible daily, from sunrise to sunset, throughout the year.

Is this site suitable for children? Because of its historical and memorial nature — including the recovery of soldiers' remains on site — it's worth preparing children for a serious and reflective visit.