News & Updates
ANZAC Day 2008 - Programme
Published on March 21st 2008This year's ANZAC Day commemorations in Belgium will be held in Mesen (Messines) and Ieper (Ypres) on Friday, April 25.
The day follows the traditional programme and the New Zealand Embassy is providing a coach from Brussels for New Zealanders and their families.
0630 Coach departs Embassy
0900 Arrival at Messines Town Hall
0905 Walk to the Municipal War Memorial. Wreath laying
0915 Depart for New Zealand Memorial, Nieuw-Zeelandersstraat
0925 Ceremony at the New Zealand Memorial followed by a short historical background presentation of New Zealand's involvement in the Battle of Messines
1000 Morning tea at the Ontmoetingscentrum, Korte Mooiestraat 7
1030 Depart for Ypres Town Hall to join Australians and the Ypres authorities
1100 March from Town Hall to the Menin Gate preceded by the Scherminkel band
1115 Ceremony at the Menin Gate. Prayers, speeches, wreath laying. Two New Zealand tenors, Warwick Mitchell and Don Currie, will sing a hymn and the Australian St Andrew's Choir will also perform
1135 March to Belgian Memorial for wreath laying.
1200 Reception in the Ypres Town Hall hosted by the Mayor of Ypres. Short speeches including two by New Zealand and Australian exchange students
1400 Coach departs Ypres for a short guided tour of Tyne Cot Cemetery via the New Zealand Memorial at 's Graventafel.
1515 Bus departs Tyne Cot Cemetery for Brussels
Embassy Coach
The New Zealand Embassy is organising a coach to take New Zealanders and their families to events of the official programme and to further ANZAC-related activities in the afternoon (a visit to the New Zealand Memorial at ‘s Gravenstafel and to Tyne Cot Cemetery). The coach leaves the Embassy in Brussels at 6.30 am and will return to the Embassy at around 5.30 pm If required, the coach can stop at the Ypres Railway Station to collect/drop off people. If you would like to use coach please e-mail: nzemb.brussels@skynet.be