The city of Ypres in West Flanders commemorated the 106th anniversary of the Armistice on Monday morning.
The ceremony took place next to the Menin Gate, a monument to the Commonwealth soldiers of the First World War which is currently undergoing renovation. Flemish ministers Matthias Diependaele and Ben Weyts attended the event.
The Great War ended at 11:00 on 11 November 1918 after four years of conflict. Armistice Day has since become an occasion to remember all the victims of this war and those who followed, both civilian and military.
The ceremony was held next to the Menin Gate for the second consecutive year due to ongoing renovation work. Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele and Flemish Heritage Minister Ben Weyts were present. Diependaele read aloud a section from Laurence Binyon's famous poem 'For the Fallen'.
Benoit Mottrie, president of the Last Post Association, which organises the annual ceremony, referred to a quote by Albert Einstein, describing the world as a dangerous place to live. "His words seem more urgent than ever as we witness conflicts all over the world," he said.
"Some world leaders even allude to the use of weapons of mass destruction. Many believe we are closer than ever to a third world war. At the same time, we must realise that peace is more than just the absence of war. Peace should also allow us to live our lives as we see fit, in freedom and security."
