Essex Farm Cemetery UNESCO World Heritage Plaque unveiled in ceremony

On Friday 23 October 2026, we reached another important milestone in our UNESCO World Heritage Plaque Programme, with the fourth of seven UNESCO World Heritage plaque unveiling ceremonies in Belgium, held at Essex Farm Cemetery in Ypres.

The event was made especially meaningful by the participation of pupils from Freinetschool De Tierlantuin in Ypres.

Several weeks before the ceremony, CWGC Public Engagement Executive Nele Bille visited their classroom to introduce them to the work of the CWGC, the history of the First World War, Essex Farm Cemetery and the significance of UNESCO World Heritage inscription status.

Despite being only 8 to 10 years old, the pupils showed remarkable curiosity and enthusiasm.

During the ceremony, the pupils recited a Dutch translation of In Flanders Fields, making the moment particularly poignant when one considers that John McCrae wrote the famous poem at Essex Farm more than a century ago.

They also each created a handmade poppy, which they placed together at a selected grave during the ceremony as a tribute to those commemorated at the site.

A particularly meaningful moment in the ceremony was the symbolic unveiling of the ten other UNESCO World Heritage sites located within the municipality of Ypres, alongside the official unveiling of the plaque at Essex Farm Cemetery.

The symbolic unveiling was carried out by our colleagues Rania Hadjisavva and Ludwig Leupe.

The event was a wonderful example of local stakeholder engagement, youth engagement and partnership working. We were delighted to collaborate with the City of Ypres, UNESCO Flanders, Freinetschool De Tierlantuin, musician Isabelle Vermeersch and colleagues from across the Commission who helped bring the ceremony together.

The ceremony programme included:

• Welcome by Katrien Desomer, Mayor of Ypres

• Address by Xavier Puppinck, CWGC Area Director

• Symbolic lighting of the CWGC Torch for Peace

• Musical interlude “In Flanders Fields” by Isabelle Vermeersch

• Contribution by the pupils of Freinetschool De Tierlantuin

• Symbolic unveiling of the ten other UNESCO World Heritage sites located within the municipality of Ypres, by CWGC colleagues Rania and Ludwig

• Official unveiling of the UNESCO World Heritage plaque by Xavier Puppinck, mayor Katrien Desomer, Alderman for heritage Stephaan De Roo and Simon Calcoen from the Flemish UNESCO Commission

• Closing musical performance and group photograph

All images: © CWGC (Eric Compernolle)