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Trench of Death

Trench of Death

Highlight (Segment) • Historical Site

Trench of Death

Recommended by 63 hikers out of 64

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Location: West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

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Best Hiking Routes to Trench of Death

4.6

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234

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1. Trench of Death – Grote Markt Diksmuide loop from Diksmuide

18.3km

04:38

30m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.6

(41)

213

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2. Trench of Death – Viconia Clay Pits loop from Schore

16.5km

04:10

20m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.0

(8)

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3. Grote Markt Diksmuide – Trench of Death loop from Diksmuide

12.4km

03:08

20m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

Tips

Viviane

October 19, 2023

The Trench of Death (French: Boyau de la Mort) is a complex of preserved trenches from the First World War. The Trench of Death is located next to a bend of the IJzer in the Diksmuid district of Kaaskerke.
The complex is the last part of the Belgian front of the First World War. Thousands of Belgian soldiers died there in the period from 1914 to 1918. In 1914, the Belgian army was driven back to Bachten de Kupe, where the Battle of the Yser took place in October 1914. The Trench of Death was an advanced post in the defense system and formed an extension to the German positions. German forces crossed the Yser near Tervate on the night of October 21 to 22, 1914. Until 1915, the Belgian positions around the death alley were no deeper than half a meter. They were then deepened and reinforced with a signal box, machine gun nests and a narrow track for the supply of ammunition and people. To prevent the Germans from taking the trench, there was an extension to stop the advance, 'the Horsemen's Redoubt'. The Belgian and German trenches were only a few meters apart, and raids sometimes took place. To protect against this, the 'mouse trap' has been constructed at the end of the Trench of Death. Barbed wire, clamps and a bunker with loopholes kept the Germans away permanently.
Until 2017, the Trench of Death was protected as a monument and housed in the Historical Pool of Defense.
Since 2017, the complex has been under the management of the War Heritage Institute.

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MS 🚴‍♂️

July 30, 2024

Totengang Diksmuide
The "Totengang" (Dutch: "Dodengang" or French: "Boyau de la Mort") is the last remaining Belgian trench system from the First World War. Belgians and Germans fought here from October 1914 for control of the area on the IJzerdijk. Construction of the "Totengang" trench began in May 1915.
The warring parties clashed more than once, and the place soon received its bloody nickname...

Source: Information board at the site

Translated by Google •

🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

September 10, 2022

“DISCOVER the MOUSE TRAP” is a unique defense strategy.
If you visit this site you should be provided with boots. This is a trench complex with a high parapet, because this complex was located right next to the Yser and the subsoil did not allow digging trenches. So high parapets had to be built. The complex consists of a maze of walkways and small air raid shelters. Very fun for children. What you should definitely do is discover the Mousetrap. This is located at the very end of the walking path complex. To get here you have to crawl through one of the 2 lock bunkers at the end. These are only of a small height, but really worth crawling through. Once you are in the mousetrap you will understand why this place is called that. Many German soldiers who attacked this complex died here. The mousetrap was impregnable. On the parapet in the mousetrap you will also find one of the last intact demarcation posts. Another intact demarcation pole is located at the Belgian Outpost bunker in Oud Stuivenskerke. Oud Stuivenskerke was located in the middle of the flood area. After WWI, these demarcation posts were placed at regular intervals along the entire front line from Nieuwpoort to Alsace - France as a reminder. During WWII, these posts had to be removed or at least the inscription cut off by the then ruling regime. On every pole in Belgium there was the inscription in three languages: "Here the usurper was stopped - Ici fut arrêté l'envahisseur - Here the invader was brought to a standstill". When you are in the mousetrap you also have a view of a German outpost bunker. The no man's land wasn't too wide here. If you don't mind a bit of mud or sludge... highly recommended!

Translated by Google •

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Details

Informations

Distance 514 m

Uphill 10 m

Downhill 10 m

Weather

Wednesday 10 December

9°C

5°C

0 %

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Max wind speed: 15.0 km/h

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Location: West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

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Trench of Death

1. Trench of Death – Grote Markt Diksmuide loop from Diksmuide

2. Trench of Death – Viconia Clay Pits loop from Schore

3. Grote Markt Diksmuide – Trench of Death loop from Diksmuide

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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