Plaine au bois siteA moving place of remembrance in the heart of Flanders

Plaine au Bois site

On 28 May 1940, during Operation Dynamo, around a hundred British soldiers held out against German troops for nine hours before being captured and massacred in a barn in Esquelbecq by the SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler division.

La Plaine au Bois A place of remembrance where history comes to life

Here, in the heart of the Flemish countryside, the silence of the fields hides the echo of a tragic page from the Second World War. On 28 May 1940, around a hundred young British soldiers held out for hours against the advancing Germans. Taken prisoner, most of them were massacred in a barn that has become a symbol of their sacrifice.

On your way to Plaine au Bois, you will be following in the footsteps of these men.
From the top of the lookout, the orientation table will help you understand their positions and the violence of the fighting. A few steps away, a stele pays tribute to all those who gave their lives, soldiers and civilians alike, for freedom.

More than just a visit, it’s a moment of meditation, a meeting with memory and courage, to ensure that the memory of 1940 never fades.

La Plaine Au Bois site - the stele and the viewpoint — ©La Plaine Au Bois site

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Plaine au Bois site located?
La Plaine au Bois
Rue des Dunkirk Veterans
59470 Esquelbecq
Can you visit the Plaine au Bois site?
Guided tours for groups, in French and English, are organised by Terre de Flandre Tourisme. For further information, please contact Aline.
The site is also open to the public.
How can you discover the history of Plaine au Bois?
A remembrance trail allows you to follow, on foot, by bike or by car, the key events and places of the Second World War, in the three communes of Esquelbecq, Ledringhem and Wormhout. It costs €2 and is available from Terre de Flandre Tourisme information offices.
This trail is complemented by three other remembrance trails retracing the events of the Second World War.
Where are the Plaine au Bois victims buried?
The victims of this massacre are buried in the Esquelbecq Commonwealth War Cemetery and in the Ledringhem and Wormhout cemeteries.
A stele for peace and friendship between peoples was inaugurated on 28 May 2010, the 70th anniversary of the massacre and the 10th anniversary of the creation of the Plaine au Bois remembrance association.