School Trips to Belgium

The educational value of a Belgium school trip

Subject-specific learning opportunities in Belgium

A school trip to Belgium offers powerful, curriculum-linked learning through focused historical study and cultural exploration. Visits to Ypres, Bruges and the First World War battlefields allow students to engage directly with key moments in European history, using place and context to deepen understanding beyond the classroom.

Skills students can develop through a school trip to Belgium

Beyond subject knowledge, a school trip to Belgium supports the development of essential personal, social and transferable skills through shared experiences, reflection and cultural immersion.

Popular school trip destinations in Belgium

Student trips to Belgium introduce students to a compact yet historically rich destination, offering powerful opportunities to explore European history, remembrance and cultural heritage. Using Ypres, Bruges and the First World War battlefields of Flanders, itineraries focus on key curriculum topics through first-hand visits, expert-led experiences and meaningful sites of remembrance.

Ypres (Ieper)

Key Highlights Students May Visit:

• Ypres town centre – Study of a town rebuilt following widespread First World War destruction
• In Flanders Fields Museum – Exploration of the causes, experiences and consequences of the First World War through immersive interpretation
• Menin Gate – Understanding remembrance and commemoration, including the significance of the Last Post Ceremony
• Local memorials and historic sites – Insight into the impact of war on civilians and communities

Best subjects supported:

• History

This focused itinerary provides a deeply reflective learning experience, using Ypres as a gateway to understanding the human impact and lasting legacy of the First World War. Through visits to preserved battlefields, cemeteries, and memorials, students engage directly with the realities of trench warfare and remembrance, connecting historical events to their ongoing significance in European and global history.

Bruges

Key Highlights Students May Visit:

• Bruges historic city centre – Exploration of a remarkably preserved medieval city
• Markt Square and Belfry – Study of medieval trade, governance and civic life
• Canals and historic streets – Understanding how commerce and geography shaped urban development
• Museums and cultural sites – Insight into Flemish heritage, art and tradition

Best subjects supported:

• History
• Cultural studies

This focused itinerary offers an immersive exploration of medieval European life, with Bruges serving as an exceptionally well-preserved example of a historic trading city. Through its architecture, canals, and civic spaces, students gain insight into medieval commerce, culture, and urban development, while considering how the city’s heritage has been preserved and reinterpreted over time.

The Battlefields

Key Highlights Students May Visit:

• First World War battlefields – In-depth study of trench warfare, tactics and conditions on the Western Front
• War cemeteries – Exploration of remembrance, sacrifice and the human cost of conflict
• Preserved landscapes and sites – Understanding how terrain influenced military operations
• Guided battlefield visits – Developing historical enquiry skills through expert-led interpretation

Best subjects supported:

• History
• Cultural studies

This focused itinerary offers a powerful and reflective learning experience, linking medieval heritage with the events and legacy of the First World War through immersive, place-based study.

Planning a school trip to Belgium

We follow a structured, expert-led approach to planning history and cultural school trips to Belgium, ensuring clear educational outcomes, safety and confidence at every stage.

• Define educational objectives
  Learning outcomes are agreed in line with history and cultural studies curriculum requirements, with a focus on the First World War, remembrance, medieval Europe and European heritage.
• Select the most suitable locations
  Destinations are chosen to support historical enquiry, including Ypres, Bruges and the First World War battlefields of Flanders.
• Design a history-led itinerary
  Visits and experiences are carefully balanced to support contextual learning, interpretation of historical sites and meaningful engagement with places of remembrance.
• Assess safety and logistics
  Accommodation, transport, routes and excursions are fully risk assessed and approved for school groups, ensuring a safe and well-managed experience.
• Prepare students and staff
  Pre-trip guidance supports historical understanding, cultural awareness and expectations for respectful behaviour at significant and sensitive sites.
• Deliver the tour with expert support
  Tours are delivered by experienced school travel specialists, ensuring smooth operation, safety and a strong educational focus throughout.
• Review and extend learning
  Post-trip activities support reflection, critical thinking and consolidation of historical knowledge and cultural understanding.

Why choose Belgium for your next school trip?

• Outstanding opportunities to study the First World War through authentic battlefield and memorial sites
• Strong curriculum links for GCSE and A-level history
• Powerful first-hand experiences that deepen understanding of conflict, remembrance and historical impact
• Rich medieval heritage explored through well-preserved cities such as Bruges
• A close-to-home European destination with manageable travel and clear educational value
• A meaningful and memorable experience that supports reflection, empathy and historical enquiry

FAQs

• What is the best month to visit Belgium?
  School trips to Belgium are brilliant all-year round – whether it be exploring Christmas Markets or embarking on geography trip in the spring!