Essex Farm op UNESCO-lijst

Essex Farm on UNESCO list - Boezinge - 23/10/2026

On Friday 23 October 2026, at 10.30 am, the UNESCO World Heritage plaque was unveiled at Essex Farm Cemetery.

The ceremony was organised by the CWGC, in collaboration with the City of Ypres.

The ceremony took on added significance thanks to the involvement of the local Freinet school, De Tierlantuin. The ‘Icarusjes’ (pupils in Years 3 and 4) helped organise the programme and made a special contribution to the ceremony.

The programme was as follows:

Welcome address by Katrien Desomer, Mayor of Ypres
Speech by Xavier Puppinck, CWGC Area Director
Lighting of the CWGC Torch for Peace
Musical interlude
Contribution from the Freinet School De Tierlantuin
Symbolic unveiling of the other ten UNESCO sites within the Ypres area
Unveiling of the UNESCO plaque at Essex Farm Cemetery
Closing musical performance
Photo opportunity

In addition to Essex Farm Cemetery, the ceremony also paid tribute to 10 other CWGC sites within the Ypres area that have been recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These are: