In front of the tourist information point in the heart of Messines, an impressive bronze statue commemorates an exceptional moment of humanity during the First World War: the Christmas Truce of 1914.
Designed by British artist Andrew Edwards, the statue shows a British and a German soldier shaking hands, with a football at their feet. It symbolises the spontaneous ceasefire on Christmas Day, when soldiers from both sides left their trenches, sang Christmas carols together, exchanged gifts and even played a game of football in no man's land.
After a tour of Europe – with stops in Wembley Stadium and Ypres, among others – the statue was given its permanent place in Messines in 2015, where the Christmas Truce actually took place. It is 3.7 metres long and 2.5 metres high, and radiates a powerful message of peace, unity and hope.

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Elevation 60 m

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Sunday 21 December

10°C

3°C

0 %

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Max wind speed: 9.0 km/h

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Location: Mesen, Ieper, West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

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