News
It is with great sadness that we were informed of the passing away of Roger Coekelbergs (Mons, 20 February 1921 – Woluwé-Saint-Lambert, 3 March 2021), PhD in Sciences, Professor, resistance fighter and political prisoner. The War Heritage Institute offers its most sincere condolences to his wife, Mrs Roger Coekelbergs, and to his family.
Roger Coekelbergs studied at the Royal Military Academy, was made prisoner of war in 1940 and returned to Belgium on 20 December 1940. In January 1941 he enrolled at the Catholic University of Louvain. His “student” status was to serve him well throughout the war. As early as...
Our temporary exhibition "Snapshots. Echoes of Silence", at the Royal Army Museum in Brussels, is part of the PhotoBrussels Festival circuit. A perfect occasion to (re)discover it, alongside the other Brussels exhibition venues in the selection (www.hangar.art/photobrusselsfestival-theworldwithin).
- More info: (www.hangar.art/photobrusselsfestival-theworldwithin)
- Our temporary exhibition: www.warheritage.be/en/exhibitions/snapshots-echoes-of-silence
⚠️ Don't forget to book your visit
- through booking.klmmra@warheritage.be
- or on 02/ 737 78 33 (Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. till...
Today we celebrate the 100th birthday of Baron Roger Coekelbergs.
With six of his friends he was incarcerated in Fort Breendonk for demonstrating against the departure of East Front volunteers. After his liberation he joined the resistance. He became the leader of the Luc-Marc intelligence network for the province of Hainaut and later participated in the liberation of Germany with the American army. After the war he pursues a brilliant academic career with the Royal Military Academy (chemistry and physics) while also working for a private company (UCB).
In 2000 he becomes chairman of the Breendonk Memori...
Located in the north-east of the city, in the direction of La Roche-en-Ardennes, Bastogne Barracks is one of the sites of the War Heritage Institute. It offers you within its vast 2350m2 exhibition hall, as well as outside it, a wide range of tracked and wheeled vehicles, artillery pieces, and various equipment related to the Second World War, both allied and Axis forces, all in a secure circuit.
Enjoy your Spring break by visiting this amazing place!
© Jerusalem Pierard / WHI
A tip for Spring break: the exhibition “Operation North Sea 1944-45” broaching the battle of the Scheldt, an important but often forgotten phase of the Second World War. Experience the despair of war and the euphoria of liberation. Stand face to face with the Flak gun of HMS Roberts, a major item in the War Heritage Institute collections. The WHI curates the exhibition. The exhibition is open till Nov 7, 2021.
- Where: Seafront, Vismijnstraat 7, 8380 Zeebrugge
- Hours Spring break: every day from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m.
- February-March: each Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m.
- During Easter br...
In the presence of Mrs Ludivine Dedonder, Minister of Defence!
This room on the First World War hosts one of the most extensive and diverse collections on this theme in the world. Apart from Greece and Bulgaria, all the countries that took part in the immense conflict are represented here. Over the past year, the teams of War Heritage Institute have worked hard to restore this section of the Royal Army Museum to its former glory.
© Malek Azoug
A modernized and refurbished 14-18 Gallery awaits you as of this Thursday at the Military Museum!
Don’t forget to announce your visit on booking.mra@warheritage.be or 02/ 737 78 33 (Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m.).
The frontline zone (FLZ) Noorderkempen vaccination centre will be set up in the hangar of Brasschaat military airport, just behind the Gunfire/WHI site.
“By opting for a single vaccination centre we will be able to ensure an efficient deployment of medical staff. The centre will be open for 8 months”, says Cindy De Roeve, president of FLZ Noorderkempen. “The hangar covers 4,000 m2 and will have 10 vaccination lines. We wish to vaccinate 75,000 people. The FLZ is expected to be operational by February 15. The idea is then to vaccinate 7/7, depending on the available vaccines”.
The vaccination centre...
During spring break the War Heritage Institute invites both young and old to come and discover its completely revamped and modernized “14-18” collection, now also to be enjoyed through two virtual circuits.
The circuit “Visual Arts of the Great War”, realized in the framework of the “Krokuskriebels” campaign, uses the “Heritage App” developed by Faro and is meant for children. Once the app and the circuit have been downloaded at the Museum entrance children (from age 6) accompanied by their families can discover the treasures safeguarded in the 14-18 Gallery by answering interactive question on their smartp...
The Belgian Navy celebrates its 75 years of existence in February. The event was marked on February 1, albeit quite intimately because of the sanitary measures imposed by the corona pandemic.
However, the Navy’s history is honoured through the publication of a book to be released by mid-February: “The Belgian Navy. From 1946 till today”. The Navy will then also organize a digital exhibition dedicated to its uniforms. A weekend uniting all sea scouts in the country is programmed in May and the port of Brussels will hail the Navy in June.
The Navy heavily invested in innovative technology and a scientific...