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.