Bruges Crypt and War Memorial

After the First World War, a memorial arch was placed at the beginning of the Kartuizerinnenstraat in memory of the many victims.

The city of Bruges also decided to give the chapel of the former Carthusian monastery the name Military Chapel and to set it up as a mausoleum in memory of the war victims. In the crypt of the chapel, separately accessible from the street, a tomb has been placed, containing the remains of an unknown soldier , in memory of all those who fell.

However, the 'Brugsch Verbond der Vaderlandsche Vereenigingen', which was founded on March 7, 1927 and consisted of important veterans' associations, could not agree with this memorial. This 'Confederation' believed, among other things, that the military band had too much of a private and confessional character and that grandiose ceremonies were impossible at this memorial. Moreover, the 'Verbond' could not accept that she was not involved in the choice of a memorial and that she was not allowed to erect a memorial herself in a public place.

In 1929-1930 a memorial arch was placed at the end of the Karthuizerinnenstraat in memory of the many victims. to give it a more public character.

Large stone plates were placed against the outer wall of the chapel on which the names of all Bruges victims of the First World War are chiseled. After the Second World War, additional signs were placed with the names of the new victims.

In the military chapel, worship services and celebrations are still regularly held by soldiers , associations of former soldiers and patriotic associations.

Willem Vandenameele