Arts Flanders

In 2014, it will be exactly 100 years ago that the First World War erupted. The 'Great War' plunged the European continent into a conflict which changed the world forever. In order to keep the memory of that historic upheaval alive, the Flemish government created the project '2014-2018. 100 jaar Groote Oorlog' (2014-2018. Centenary of the Great War).

Preparations for the commemoration have already started. In May 2010,  the Flemish Department of Foreign Affairs organised an initial joint consultation session with diplomatic representatives from twelve nations (Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the Russian Federation, France, Ireland, Morocco, Canada, Italy, Germany, India, and Poland). Two themes were discussed: the planned national commemorative initiatives and the design of an international events calendar, on the one hand, and the In Flanders Fields Declaration, on the other.

In Flanders, the Flemish Minister for Tourism, Geert Bourgeois, earmarked the sum of EUR 15 million for tourist-recreational projects. The intention is to support projects that offer an attractive and high-quality product relating to World War I within an international context. Three types of projects are eligible for funding:

• Projects that are aimed at the realisation of a network of high-quality tourist attractions and tourist sites
• Topical and professional tourist attractions
• The World War I experience within the war landscape: historical war sites and routes

More information
Website: 'Herdenking 100 jaar Groote Oorlog' (in Dutch)