Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917

The Passchendaele Museum (until 2022 known as Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917) in Zonnebeke, Belgium, is a museum devoted to the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917 (also known as the Third Battle of Ypres). In this battle in only 100 days, almost 500,000 men were killed to gain only eight kilometres of ground.

The museum is housed in the historic château grounds of Zonnebeke and focuses on the material aspects of the First World War.^[1]

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History

The history of the Passchendaele Museum started in 1987. It featured the first exhibition about the Third Battle of Ypres (1917). This exhibition consisted of visual materials from the Imperial War Museum. This initial exhibition was considered successful, with 9,000 visitors, who attended, amongst other events, a large ceremony at Tyne Cot Cemetery and battlefield tours.

It was decided to put the château at the museum's disposal, with attention fixed on the war years, but also the Zonnebeke Augustinian Abbey and local history. The museum itself opened in 1989.

In 2002, it was decided to renew the museum. The museum was increased to three storeys and became a classic historical museum with a reconstructed dug-out being built. The renewed museum opened on Anzac Day 2004.

In 2007, during the commemoration of 90 years since the 'Third Battle of Ypres', the museum organised six thematic exhibitions that took place in different locations, along with creating three new trails.

In 2014, the former vicarage of Zonnebeke was restored to be used as research centre.

Theme: The Third Battle of Ypres

The main theme of the museum is the Third Battle of Ypres, also known as the Battle of Passchendaele. This was a major battle in 1917 during the First World War which was fought by British, Anzac and Canadian troops and the German army. The total loss of human lives is about 450,000, for only 8 km gain of ground. With this battle, the main goal was to eliminate an important part of the German Army.

Location

The historic château of Zonnebeke located on the area around the battlefields of 1917. It is less than 3 km from Polygon Wood and Tyne Cot, the largest cemetery of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Track

The track of the museum is about 600 metres and is situated in the château grounds of Zonnebeke.

Collection

The collection from the MMP1917 is dynamic. The head collection consists of militaria and many personal objects and documents.

- The old collection (obtained between 1989 and 2002)
- The Hill 60 collection
- The Vieux-Berquin collection
- The Fierens collection
- The personal collection

Passchendaele Research Centre

On 27 April 2014 the Passchendaele Museum opened a research centre in the former vicarage of Zonnebeke. The building houses an office for the museum's research staff, a library and reading room. The Passchendaele Research Centre is open to researchers and visitors with historical inquiries. The museum shares the building with the Zonnebeekse Heemvrienden, the local historical society.