Flemish Minister for Heritage Ben Weyts visited the archaeological site in Ypres discreetly on 7 April. This discretion was necessary so that the archaeological site was not disturbed. He was accompanied by German ambassador Martin Kotthaus and mayor of Ypres Katrien Desomer.
“These excavations contribute to the historical awareness and commemoration of the fallen, and reminds us of the many thousands of unknown soldiers of the First World War who are never identified or still missing,” says Katrien Desomer, mayor of Ypres. “They not only offer insight into the past, but also give relatives the opportunity to commemorate their loved ones and visit their final resting place. The landscape in Ypres and the Westhoek is now more than ever the last witness of the First World War.”