WWII Sites in Belgium: 23 Unforgettable Museums & Historic Sites

When it comes to historical destinations in Europe, the many WWII sites in Belgium definitely top that list. A country that’s no stranger to war, Belgium offers countless World War II museums, monuments, memorials, and original historic sites for you to visit. There’s such a wealth of history here, in fact, that you’ll definitely need to narrow down your list. And that’s where I come in!

This post will introduce you to the best WWII sites in Belgium for each of these categories. This isn’t all the places you can visit here, but definitely the ones you should consider for a first-time visit to Belgium or when you’re just looking to experience someplace new.

World War II in Belgium

Belgium’s World War II history is lengthy and complex (as I’m sure you know). So here’s a quick summary that highlights the main themes you’ll learn about on your tour of WWII sites in Belgium:

Invasion

Nazi Germany invaded Belgium on May 10, 1940 as part of a larger invasion of the “low countries”—France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Ill-equipped and under-manned for Germany’s blitzkrieg style of war, Belgium’s forces held out for just 18 days.

Occupation

Belgium surrendered unconditionally and the country was thus occupied by Nazi Germany for the next four years. The occupation of Belgium followed the familiar formula of oppression, some collaboration, some resistance, and the deportation of Jews to the concentration camps.

Battle of the Bulge

Following the D-Day invasions, Allied troops liberated Belgium in the fall of 1944, but their fight wasn’t quite over yet. Germany launched a last-ditch counter-offensive in December of that year to try and split, encircle, and destroy the Allied armies and retake the advantage. This desperate move (the last major German offensive on the western front) was the Ardennes Offensive, which has since become known as the Battle of the Bulge.

The Battle of the Bulge lasted from December 16, 1944 until January 25, 1945 and took place in Belgium’s dense Ardennes Forest region near the town of Bastogne. Surrounded, freezing, and running out of supplies, the Allied situation seemed desperate. Still, they refused to surrender. George Patton’s Third Army eventually arrived to relieve the struggling troops, ending what would be the largest and bloodiest single battle of the entire war for the Americans.

Need to know: The terms “Battle of the Bulge,” the “Ardennes Offensive,” and “Operation Wacht am Rhein” all refer to the same thing–the grueling battle between Allied and German forces in the Belgian forests in December 1944.

Map of WWII sites in Belgium

WWII Museums in Belgium

The number of war museums in Belgium (both World Wars I and II) is staggering, especially considering this country’s small size. Spend a few weeks here and visit them all, or take your pick from this list.

1. 101st Airborne Museum – Bastogne

This is my favorite WWII museum in Belgium and one of the most well-put together. Dedicated to the men of the US 101st Airborne Division, it’s located in the center of Bastogne inside a multi-level building that was occupied by Nazi Germany throughout the war.

This museum is filled with unique memorabilia and personal stories from the 101st and the Battle of the Bulge. The artifact displays are life-size replicas of the historic photos displayed with them; there’s video footage, dioramas, and tons of historical recreations.

One of the more interesting parts though is the bombing simulator. I’ve been in a lot of WWII-related simulators and this is by far the best one. You really get a sense of what it must’ve felt like to be a terrified civilian during a bombing raid.  

Visitor information: Get opening hours, admission costs, and all other essential visitor information here: 101airbornemuseumbastogne.com

To see all the best Battle of the Bulge spots in Belgium, check out my full guide to the WWII sites in Bastogne.

2. Bastogne Barracks – Bastogne

If you’re into tanks and other kinds of World War II vehicles and equipment, this is the museum for you. (And that’s the understatement of the year!) This museum includes two massive warehouses filled with everything related to mechanized warfare. On the list of WWII sites in Belgium, this is definitely one of the coolest.

I could go on and on about all the stuff you can see here, but no one has that kind of time. (I spent a good two hours here probably.) So, just take a look for yourself.

Visitor information: Opening hours, admission costs, and all other essential visitor information available here: bastognebarracks.be

3. Bastogne War Museum – Bastogne

The Bastogne War Museum is the largest, most preeminent World War II museum in Belgium. It’s got tons of exhibit spaces on several topics and offers, what they call, a “total immersion in history.”

Small theaters punctuate the exhibits so you can watch short films to help bring the museum’s content to life. It does a great job of explaining the war from start to finish, focusing on more than just the Belgian side of things. They provide you with a free audio guide with your admission.

Note: The Bastogne War Museum incorporates two other notable sites as well: the Bastogne War Rooms and the Bois Jacques forest. You can purchase a combination ticket for access to all of these.

Visitor information: Opening hours, admission costs, and all other essential visitor information available here: bastognewarmuseum.be

4. Bastogne War Rooms – Bastogne

(I know, the names are starting to get confusing. To make it less so, just refer to this one as the “Nuts! Museum.”)

The Bastogne War Rooms is a brand-new museum (opened February 2024) that houses the historic cellar “where we said NUTS.” It’s an extension of the Bastogne War Museum that won’t take you too long to visit.

On December 22, 1944, German officers approached US General Anthony McAuliffe with a letter demanding surrender. Absolutely refusing to do so, McAuliffe famously replied, simply, “Nuts!” (In other words, “No way!”) And that was that.

The Bastogne War Rooms largely focuses on this famous (hilarious) event. You can see the room where the whole thing took place and learn some of the history behind it. But really, it’s dedicated to what that reply stood for—the refusal to give up; a symbol of the American troops’ heroic resistance in the face of devastation.  

Visitor information: Opening hours, admission costs, and all other essential visitor information available here: bastognewarmuseum.be

5. Belgian Resistance Museum – Brussels/Anderlecht

The National Museum of the Resistance is located in the Anderlecht outskirts of Brussels. It features exhibits and artifacts that center around the many categories of resistance in Belgium such as underground press and intelligence networks, escape lines and rescue networks for Jews, and armed resistance.

Its main objective is “to raise awareness and sensitize all citizens to the dangers posed by a non-democratic system, whatever its form.” A mission I think we can all get behind.

Visitor information: Get opening hours, admission costs, and other essential visitor information here: museumresistance.be

6. December ’44 Museum – Stoumont

With one of the largest artifact collections I’ve seen, the December ’44 Museum focuses on just that—the month of December 1944 here in Belgium. (In other words, the Battle of the Bulge, Hitler’s last attempt to break the Allies.)

It features an enormous quantity of uniforms and other pieces left throughout the area by retreating German troops and Waffen SS. You’ll find several informative exhibits on Nazi Germany’s last offensive—Operation Wacht am Rhein as they called it. Of all the WWII sites in Belgium, this might be the best one at which to learn about the German side of the Battle of the Bulge.

Visitor information: Opening hours, admission costs, and all other essential visitor information available here: december44.com

7. Kazerne Dossin Memorial Museum – Mechelen

Kazerne Dossin is both a Holocaust museum and memorial located at the former Mechelen transit camp. After interning them here, Nazi Germans sent 25,274 Jews and 354 Romani from occupied Belgium to Auschwitz and other concentration camps in the east.

Today, this multi-level museum focuses on several aspects of how the “Final Solution” played out in Belgium, arranged thematically and chronologically. It does a fantastic job of using informational displays and original artifacts to tell the story of Belgium’s unique situation. There’s also a 360° viewing area on the top level.

Across the plaza from the museum you can visit the memorial that’s located within the actual former camp barracks. (The entrance is just to the right after you walk under the arch.) The train car outside indicates the spot where the railway in and out of the camp was once located.

Visitor information: Opening hours, admission costs, and all other essential visitor information available here: kazernedossin.eu

8. Manhay History 44 Museum – Manhay

The Manhay 44 Museum tells the story of the Battle of the Bulge as it relates to this particular region of Belgium—the Manhay, Lierneux, and Erezée sectors. While most of the WWII sites in Belgium focus on the fighting in Bastogne, this museum will introduce you to some entirely new facets of the war.

Visitor information: Opening hours, admission costs, and all other essential visitor information available here: mhm44.be

9. Mons Memorial Museum – Mons

The Mons Memorial Museum is different from the other WWII sites in Belgium as it focuses on much more. This museum actually has exhibits on all things having to do with military history in this region of Belgium from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.

For our purposes, there’s an entire 1940-1945 area to focus on. It covers topics like civilian life and resistance, deportation and mass extermination, collaboration with the Nazi regime, and more.

Visitor information: Opening hours, admission costs, and all other essential visitor information available here: musees-expos.mons.be

10. Musée de la Bataille des Ardennes – La Roche-en-Ardenne

This museum, about a half hour north of Bastogne, is the only Battle of the Bulge museum to offer a focus on British operations. That right there makes it truly unique among the WWII sites in Belgium.

This museum started out as the private collection of a father and son with a passion for WWII history. The collection of artifacts continued to grow until it eventually became a museum. It’s very much a “family museum.”

Visitor information: Get opening hours, admission costs, and other essential visitor information here: batarden.be

11. Spitfire Museum – Florennes

Another unique museum among the many WWII sites in Belgium is the Spitfire Museum. This one is fully dedicated to the aviation side of the Battle of the Bulge as well as the role of the Florennes airbase. In addition to its interesting exhibits, you’ll also get to see lots of cool aircraft and other aviation artifacts.

Visitor information: Get opening hours, admission costs, and other essential visitor information here: museespitfire-florennes.be

Original historic WWII sites in Belgium

Though you can definitely consider some of these “museums” in their own way, the following are a few of the original historic sites and battlegrounds that you can still visit today. (The best kinds of museums, in my opinion.)

12. Atlantikwall Raversyde – Ostend

The Atlantikwall Raversyde historical site seriously impressed me and it easily become one of my top WWII sites in Belgium. Highly recommend! (Even during heavy winds and rains.)

Atlantikwall Raversyde is an open-air “museum” that includes over 60 well preserved bunkers and two miles of trenches along Belgium’s northern coastline. (This would be a great spot to check out before or after a visit to Dunkirk.) It consists of two main sections—WWI and WWII—and also has a small indoor museum space.

At this unique battery complex, you can tour the entire space, the majority of which dates to WWII. You can walk through all the underground tunnels, go into the bunkers and batteries, and much more. Many of the bunkers have historical recreations and/or exhibits inside with tons of artifacts. The Belgians’ love of comic strips makes this place especially interesting!

Visitor information: Get opening hours, admission costs, and other essential visitor information here: raversyde.be

13.  Bois Jacques Battlefield – Bastogne

Visiting the Bois Jacques is an absolute must for anyone looking to visit WWII sites in Belgium. (Especially if you’re a fan of Band of Brothers!) Here, in this small forest, you can still find the famous foxholes used by Easy Company of the 101st Airborne during the Battle of the Bulge.

The historic site at Bois Jacques is part of the Bastogne War Museum so your museum ticket includes admission here too. Once here, there’s little more than a small parking lot, a self-accessed entrance gate, and the forest itself.

There’s a small amount of information available, but what you really want to use here is the official Bois Jacques mobile app. I typically balk at having to download any new app that I’m only going to use once, but this particular one is absolutely worth it.

Besides being the only real source of information here, it also utilizes augmented reality to help you envision the site the way it was during the Battle of the Bulge. Stand next to a designated marker and the app will show that exact view as it was in 1944. Some of the shots include re-enactions as well to help paint a fuller picture. It really is the coolest!

(You can download it here for Android and here for Apple, but it won’t work until you get here. There are also QR codes around the area for you to download it if you have cell service.)

Visitor information: Get opening hours, admission costs, and other essential visitor information here: bastognewarmuseum.be

14. Brûly-de-Pesche 1940 – Couvin

The small village of Brûly-de-Pesche on the French/Belgium border is known today as the location of Hitler’s bunker during the Battle of France (1940). As Hitler’s bunkers tend to be, this site is located deep in the forest, but not far from the village’s church and “town center.”

At the site, you’ll first be introduced to Brûly-de-Pesche in the visitors center where you’ll learn about the trauma Hitler inflicted when he chose this location. Then, you’ll follow a path through the woods to several historical sites used by Hitler during his stay.

You’ll get to see a few different original buildings and recreational areas, plus a recreated building that’s been turned into a museum dedicated to the nearby resistance groups. But the main “attraction” here is Hitler’s former bunker.

It’s nothing more than a small empty building today, but it’s interesting to enter and see its bomb-proof construction. It’s eerie, as Hitler’s former residences and bunkers tend to be, and definitely worth a visit.

Visitor information: Opening hours, admission costs, and other necessary visitor information is available here: bdp1940.be

15. Fort Breendonk Concentration Camp – Willebroek/Mechelen

Halfway between Brussels and Antwerp you’ll find Fort Breendonk, a WWI fortress that served as a Nazi prison camp during WWII. Of all the WWII sites in Belgium, this one will probably be the one you remember the most. (In fact, their slogan reads: “Breendonk. Stays with you. For life.” And now that I’ve been, I totally agree.)

The National Memorial of Fort Breendonk claims to be one of the “best-preserved testimonials of the Second World War Nazi atrocities” and they’re not kidding. You don’t have to use your imagination at all here to picture what it was like for the prisoners.

Each room contains a powerful exhibit on its former use with photographs, artifacts, recreations, and firsthand accounts from former prisoners who were mostly Jews, resistance fighters, and political opponents. You’ll visit barracks, torture chambers, the work grounds, the execution yard, all of it.

I have a full post about visiting Fort Breendonk here with everything you need to know.

WWII Monuments & Memorials in Belgium

Given the nature of what happened here during World War II, there are a good number of meaningful monuments, memorials, and cemeteries in Belgium as well. Here are some great spots to consider adding to your Belgium itinerary.

16. Ardennes American Cemetery – Neupré

Ardennes American Cemetery serves as the final resting place for 5,300 American fighters who died during World War II, the majority of which served in the US Army Air Forces. In addition to the rows and rows (and rows…) of white granite crosses, you’ll also find informational panels and the enormous central memorial.

Inside the memorial at Ardennes Cemetery is a chapel and several larger-than-life battle maps depicting the military operations of Western Europe.

17. Liberty Road Marker Km 1147

The Liberty Road is a route that starts in Normandy and follows the path of Allied forces from D-Day onwards. From Normandy it continues through Northern France and eventually ends here in Bastogne.

You can find a stone marker like this one at every kilometer along the way, totaling 1,147 of them. This one here along the road outside the Bastogne War Museum is the last one – kilometer 1147.

The design is meant to represent the torch of liberty rising from the sea and being carried eastward. 48 stars for the 48 states (at the time) line the top. This route officially opened in 1947 and has evolved in all sorts of ways.

You can find more information on the Liberty Road here: liberationroute.com

18. Malmedy Massacre Memorial – Malmedy

On December 17, 1944, US troops from the 7th Armored Division surrendered to Nazi Germany’s 1st SS Panzer Division when they found themselves outnumbered. Rather than take them as prisoners, Nazi troops marched them to a field, searched them, seized their belongings, then opened fire. They killed 84 US soldiers for no reason at all; 43 managed to escape.

This memorial near the original massacre site makes sure the world doesn’t forget them. Under an American flag, it contains 84 plaques bearing the names of the victims and a covered space for remembrance. (This memorial also goes by the name Mémorial de Baugnez.)

19. Mardasson Memorial / Battle of the Bulge Monument – Bastogne

Located next to the Bastogne War Museum is the Mardasson Memorial, the largest such monument dedicated to the memory of American troops killed during the Battle of the Bulge. (Located here on Mardasson Hill, the farthest point of the German advance.)

It’s shaped like a 5-pointed star with a large atrium in the center. Each of the 48 states and the participating battalions are commemorated here. There are spiral staircases that lead to a viewing platform at the top and a crypt below.

20. Recogne German War Cemetery – Recogne/Bastogne

If you haven’t been to a German World War II cemetery yet, I highly recommend it. It’s not exactly an uplifting experience, but it’s worthwhile to see the stark contrast between these and the pristine American and Commonwealth cemeteries throughout Europe.

Where Allied cemeteries mark graves with glistening white crosses or headstones, German war graves (in Allied territory that is) are typically designated by heavy black crosses, most of which are shared, many of which are anonymous. Instead of open, manicured spaces, German cemeteries tend to be tree-covered and dark.

While you’re here checking out the WWII sites in Belgium, stop by the Recogne German War Cemetery in Bastogne to see what I mean. (Reading the guestbook is always an interesting experience too.)

21. Stumbling Stones

As with almost every other European city, I’m going to encourage you to keep your eyes open for Stumbling Stones while you’re out exploring the WWII sites in Belgium.

These small bronze stones mark the last known residence of a Jew killed in the Holocaust and serve as their own personal memorial. They contain things like the person’s name and birthdate along with the date, manner, and location of their death.

You can find stumbling stones (Stolpersteine in German) in several cities in Belgium including Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp, and Liège. If you find yourself in Brussels, head to Rue des Tanneurs (around address 130 and up); this street is lined with them.

For all the Brussels World War II sites, see my guide in that link.

Art-Related WWII Sites in Belgium

I’ve been fascinated with the Nazi fine art obsession ever since I read Monuments Men several years ago. So even though these next few aren’t exactly Belgian “WWII sites,” they’re definitely worth seeing if you also have a special interest in Nazi art theft.

Both of these pieces feature highly in both the original book and the Hollywood movie Monuments Men. (The book is immensely better than the movie, but definitely watch it if it’s your only option.) If you’re a fan of either, seeing these pieces in real life is going to be a (super nerdy) thrill.

22. Bruges Madonna – Bruges

At the Church of Our Lady in Bruges, you can view Michelangelo’s ‘Madonna and Child.’ Sculpted in 1501 and commonly referred to as the ‘Bruges Madonna,’ Nazi soldiers smuggled this sculpture out of the church in 1944.

The men of the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Section Unit (MFAA), an Allied organization dedicated to safeguarding fine art and other cultural treasures dubbed the Monuments Men, discovered it a year later in a salt mine in Austria. It was returned to Bruges and hasn’t left the church since.

Visitor information: Get the essential visitor details you need to see the Bruges Madonna here: museabrugge.be

23. Ghent Altarpiece – Ghent

The Ghent Altarpiece—officially known as the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb—was painted by brothers Hubert and Jan van Eyck and completed in 1432. It’s widely believed to be one of the most important works of art in European history. (Yeah, it’s pretty neat.)

This massive triptych is currently on display inside Saint Bavo’s Cathedral but was hidden in storage for safekeeping throughout the war. In 1942, under the guise of “protecting it,” Hitler ordered his minions to transfer it to Neuschwanstein Castle. When that situation became too precarious, they then moved it to the Austrian salt mines where the Monuments Men eventually recovered and returned it after the war.  

Visitor information: You can find the info you need to see the Ghent Altarpiece here: sintbaafskathedraal.be

Like this post? Have questions about your Belgium trip? Let me know in the comments below. Have fun in Belgium!

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