Flanders Fields World War One site : Diksmuide's Trench of Death

Preserved and restored trench system of WW1 near Diksmuide : the Dodengang, or Trench of Death  is a major World War One site of Flanders, relic of  the Yser River battlefield  

(Browse the collection : West Flanders Province time lapse and video stock footage)

The Dodengang Trench of Death stands mainly as it did when it was in use, though there have been a few restorations done to strengthen the durability of the trench itself. What looks like sandbags in the photos are actually cement bags made to mimic the original sandbags in place during the war.

(Arbours Abroad)

It remains a symbol of Belgian resistance, preserved for history buffs and the curious. When the Belgians flooded the river, at this bend outside of Diksmuide, “the flooding was at its limit and it was impossible to leave the area unguarded,” notes the book Traces of the Great War.

(Toronto Star)

While scrambling to close off access to ally France, Belgian troops opened the floodgates of Nieuwpoort on October 25th, inundating the low-lying land the German army stood upon. The scene soon dissolved into a disorderly muddy mess. All chances of a swift German advance were gone, yet the ultimate stand came at a price. A miserable four-year period of trench warfare had begun, symbolized to this day by the eerily named ‘Trench of Death’ at Dixmude, the last remnant of the trench system etched into the seaside landscape.

(Culture Trip)