Traffic jams close the Menin Gate

The rush to see the monument is being blamed on the centenary of the Great War.

Every night at 8pm a Last Post is sounded, but in recent weeks the ceremony has attracted growing numbers of sightseers and as a result Ieper has decided to close the road through the Menin Gate from the hours of 7:30pm till 8:30pm as pedestrian safety can no longer be guaranteed otherwise.

The city of Ieper’s Peter Slosse: "The police will be stationed at the monument from 7:30pm onwards for an hour. That should make it clear to locals and tourists alike that no traffic is being allowed through the Menin Gate."

A new car park is also being laid out so that coaches can drop off tourists near the Menin Gate.

Flandersnews.be / Expatica