From 10–12 June 2026, the partners of the GOV4PeaCE project gathered in Ypres (Ieper), Belgium, for the 3rd Joint Transnational Strategic Workshop, kindly hosted by the In Flanders Fields Museum.
The first day of the meeting was dedicated to project workshops and the review of ongoing activities. Partners discussed the results achieved within the different work packages, assessed developed tools and outputs, and exchanged views on the further development of the transnational cooperation model in the field of First World War heritage. The session also provided an opportunity for knowledge exchange between partners representing different European regions.
On the second day, participants explored good practices from the region in heritage management and its role in regional development. The programme included a guided visit to the In Flanders Fields Museum, presentations on the development of historical tourism, and a study tour to key WWI remembrance sites, including Hill 60, Kemmelberg, Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, and the German Military Cemetery in Langemark.
A particularly moving moment of the programme was the participation in the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate Memorial. This daily tribute, continuously held since 1928 (with the exception of the Second World War period), honours soldiers who lost their lives in the Ypres Salient and brings together both local residents and international visitors every evening.
The final day was dedicated to the GOV4PeaCE Public Forum. Panel discussions presented the project’s results, experiences from each functional territory, and reflections on future transnational cooperation in the field of WWI heritage preservation and promotion. Speakers included representatives from Belgium, Poland, Slovenia, Hungary, France, and Italy.
The Ypres workshop marked an important milestone in the GOV4PeaCE project, allowing partners to both consolidate progress achieved so far and gain inspiration from exemplary approaches to using heritage as a driver for social, educational, and tourism development.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the team of the In Flanders Fields Museum for the excellent organisation of the event, the well-prepared programme, and for providing an inspiring environment for cooperation and exchange among project partners.