Allied bombings

Even though Bruges was 30 km away from the front, the city and its port were of great strategic importance to the German Marinegebiet and warfare both on and under the water.

This military presence made Bruges a prime target for the Allies. They dropped in total some 6,000 bombs on it, which explains the high number of civilian casualties, especially in the outskirts but also in the city centre. The extent of the damage was enormous: 123 Bruges residents died, 243 were injured, 126 houses were razed to the ground and another 418 were damaged.

In the night of 15 to 16 October 1917, the Allies bombed the barracks at Kruispoort [Kruis Gate]. The bombs missed their target and ended up on the workman's cottages in Balsemboomstraat and Kwekersstraat, killing 17 people, including many children. This monument commemorates them.

Vl. Toeristisch bezienswaardigheden