Displaced

In 1914, 1,5 million Belgians – a quarter of the population at the time – fled the violence of war. An estimated 600,000 remained abroad for the duration of the conflict, primarily in France, Britain, and the Netherlands. Moreover, thousands of others were displaced by force. Soldiers on both sides of the front evacuated these civilians, whose homes had become too dangerous due to the advancing war.Many became "refugees in their own country." At the end of the war, they faced a difficult return, sometimes lasting years. Some never returned because they saw no future in their homeland.

Twenty years after the exhibition 'Fleeing the Great War' (2004), the museum will once again dedicate an exhibition to the still largely overlooked subject of Belgian refugees from 1914-1918. Over the past two decades, countless new personal stories have been shared with the museum, the collection has grown with objects and materials documenting the exodus, and new research has been conducted.

The In Flanders Fields Museum aims to showcase these testimonies in a new, high-profile exhibition – both within and beyond the walls of the Cloth Hall – with a focus on personal stories and how later generations have engaged with them.

• Expo: 2 October 2025 - 14 June 2026
• The exhibition is currently in full preparation. Do you have a refugee story in your family? Then get in touch with the museum team. You can read all about the research project on this webpage.
• As part of the theme year, the Museum will be organising a number of side events, including lectures, walks and an international conference.