Varlet Farm

24/06/2025

The Cloth hall, back in its former glory!

09/06/2025

06/06/2025

The tunnelling and mining operation at Messines on the Ypres Salient was a staggering feat of engineering, which played a vital part in the Battle of Messines. The mining work had begun in spring 1915, with the tunnels dug approximately 4.6-6.1m deep.

The open warfare and flanking manoeuvres of the early stages of the war had ceased as both sides dug in, and specialist weapons and units were needed to break the deadlock. Digging underneath defences to undermine them was not a new tactic, however the Germans were the first to exploit this tactic in the First World War.

The first mines laid by British Tunnellers were detonated as early as April 1915 at Hill 60, near Ypres. The 70ft crater destroyed German trenches and pillboxes and was the first of many successful mining operations that followed over the years.

Messines Ridge, located south of Ypres, was captured by German forces in 1914. The ridge granted the German Army a dominant position overlooking the Ypres salient. After years of suffering heavy casualties in the salient, in 1917 the Allies planned to break out. Their first move was to capture the Messines Ridge. Doing so would leave the Allies better placed to launch their offensive to the north-east toward Passchendaele.

On 7th June 1917, 19 mines were detonated by the British to launch the Battle of Messines.

Four mines were deliberately not detonated at Messines. The Tunnellers did not remove them at the time, as they were directed to another front and their location was lost as the fighting continued. In 1955, one of these mines exploded during a storm, which killed a cow. The three others remain lost and unexploded.

📸 German prisoners taken in the Battle of Messines, 8th June 1917. © IWM (Q 2276)

02/06/2025

Ben jij de flexi- of vakantiejobber die wij zoeken?
Om onze mooie B&B met 8 ruime kamers kraaknet te houden, zijn wij op zoek naar mensen met oog voor detail!
Wij bieden een fijne werkomgeving en een mooie verloning, daarenboven volledig Belastingsvrij als flexi- of jobstudent.
Werkuren ma-zo zijn ifv de bezetting, maar steeds in onderling overleg planning op te maken.
Contacteer ons via FB messenger en misschien heb je binnenkort een mooie bijverdienste beet!

14/03/2025

After a thorough renovation that started in November 2024, the Passchendaele Museum will reopen on Saturday 5th of April.
Experience.Reflect.Remember

https://passchendaele.be/

13/03/2025

Wandelnetwerk Ieperboog Oost is verkozen tot het mooiste wandelnetwerk van de Benelux, met een aangename mix van natuur, onverharde paden en historische plekken en monumenten.
Stel je route samen op jouw maat mbv de routeplanner of bewandel 1 van de uitgestippelde icoonroutes.
Koppel je verkenning van de streek aan een verblijf en begin volledig uitgerust aan een stevige wandeling.
Wij liggen op wandelknooppunt 24 (en fietsknooppunt 99).

https://www.visitwestvlaanderen.be/nl/wandelen/wandelnetwerk-ieperboog-oost

19/02/2025

A Chieftain, a British tank weighing 55 tonnes and used during the Cold War, was shipped this night to Ypres in preparation of a new museum opening in 2030.
The tank is in good condition, but will require extensive maintenaince to get it fully operational again.

Met een uitzonderlijk transport is vorige nacht een Britse tank in Ieper aangekomen. Het gaat om een Chieftain, die als afschrikkingsmiddel diende in de…

24/12/2024

Merry Christmas wishes from all of us at Varlet Farm!

20/06/2024

Ontdek onze prachtige streek te voet en heel eenvoudig met de nieuwe Wandelknooppunten van Ieperboog Oost!
Onze B&B ligt aan wandelknooppunt 24 (en fietsknooppunt 99).
Stippel zelf je route uit of maak het je gemakkelijk met de reeds uitgestippelde icoonroutes.

Ideaal voor een paar ontspannende dagjes vakantie deze zomer!
Boek je verblijf voordelig online via volgende link
https://reservations.cubilis.eu/varlet-farm-langemark-poelkapelle?language=nl-NL

25/12/2023

We want to wish you all a warm Christmas with family and friends and all the best for the new year to come!

17/04/2023

The Menin Gate Monument needs to undergo restoration works, because the natural stone is getting fairly damaged. Starting Tonight, the Last Post ceremony will not be held under the Menin Gate, but on the fortified Walls of Ypres just next to it.