The Historic Battle of Waterloo
Sunday 18 June 2008 commemorates the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo when the Duke of Wellington defeated Napoleon Bonaparte in 1815 in what is now southern Belgium – at the time the territory was under the Dutch Monarchy.
It was a battle of equals, and fiercely fought. But in the end it was impeccable strategic judgement, brilliant tactics and precision planning that won the day for Wellington and his allies.
The battlefields are now a protected site and and much of the landscape today is as it would originally have been. The battle is commemorated each year on 18 June by some 900 people from a dozen or so countries gathering to re-enact it in period costume. During the summer months too, there are similar lively re-enactments at weekends. For more on the Battle of Waterloo.
Get a real sense of the lie of the land
Since 2006 you can take the ‘Battlefield Tour’ over the actual battlefield itself in a specially converted lorry, with commentary in English, French and Dutch. You will see the positions of the various armies, where cavalry and infantry were positioned, how the engagements took place. You will see too the Butte du Lion (Lion Mound) which was erected by the Prince of Orange (later to become the King of the Netherlands) at the spot where he was injured fighting alongside the British forces. It is a man-made mound commemorating the end of the Napoleonic Wars when Europe could once more be at peace (or so they hoped!). The tour lasts about 40 minutes but provides an invaluable understanding of how the battle was fought. For more on the ‘Battlefield Tour'.
Cycle the Battlefield
For those of you with a bit more stamina, you can now also explore the battlefield on all-terrain bikes (VTT in French)
– either bringing your own or hiring on site. There are well signposted paths. The cycle routes are currently open from 01 July to 31 August. Find out more.
The Wellington Museum
The museum is in the centre of the town of Waterloo, some 4km from the battlefield itself. It is the former inn at which Wellington stayed on the nights before the battle and from which he announced his victory over Napoleon. More on the Wellington Museum.
Getting there
Waterloo is just south of Brussels, in southern Belgium
. It is just under two hours drive from Dunkirk – 200km. Follow directions to Lille as you leave Dunkirk.
Opening times: April to October: 9.30am to 6.30pm; November to March: 10am to 5pm.
Facilities are available for wheelchair users. More details here.
See also our "Exploring Wartime History" guide (pages 16-17).