Goal Hill

The first cadastral register for Zonnebeke was drawn up around 1829. For the first time, a heathland is referred to as an exercise field or practice square. Perhaps Dutch soldiers who were located in Ypres came here to practice. After 1830, the Belgian soldiers continued to use this site. The Belgian army also built the target hill to protect the area during target practice on the grounds. That hill was originally 90 meters long and seven meters high. The earth was mined on site, resulting in the so-called Target Well.

During World War I, the forest was totally destroyed. Due to its high elevation, which was further enhanced by the presence of the Doel Hill, the forest was a continuous battleground in the Ypres Salient.

After the armistice, the Den Doel gun mound and a plot to the west of the hill were handed over to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to be turned into a war cemetery in memory of the fallen soldiers.

On the northeast side of Buttes New British Cemetery is the Fifth Australian Division Memorial on the hill. In front of the hill is the Stone of Remembrance. On the southwest side of the cemetery is the New Zealand Memorial commemorating 378 New Zealand Division servicemen with no known grave.

Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos