Participation in the ceremonies marking the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Belgian towns and cities
24.11.2025
Representatives of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Brussels took part in this year's ceremonies marking the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Belgian towns and cities from German occupation. Many of the events paid tribute to the Polish soldiers of the 1st Polish Armoured Division, who, led by General Stanisław Maczek, fought for freedom in around 60 Flemish towns and cities.
Commemorative events were held in Antwerp, Leuven, Ieper, Ghent, Roeselare, Sint Niklaas, Liège, Nevele (Deinze commune), Eksaarde/Lokeren, Ruiselede, Adegem, Lommel and De Klinge.
In Antwerp, the city’s liberation was commemorated at the “Namenmonument” memorial and at the Schoonselhof municipal cemetery, by the graves of Polish veterans and the plaque honouring the contribution of the Polish Armed Forces to the liberation of Flanders.
In Leuven, wreaths were laid at the municipal cemetery and at the British cemetery in Heverlee, where Polish soldiers are buried.
In Ieper, the liberation of the city by General Maczek’s 1st Polish Armoured Division was commemorated at the plaque on the town hall and at the monument dedicated to General Stanisław Maczek on Polenlaan.
In Ghent, ceremonies honoured both the city’s liberation and the Polish airmen commemorated at the Polish Airmen monument, who fought a victorious battle over the city on New Year’s Eve 1944.
In Roeselare, wreaths were laid at the monument on Onze-Lieve-Vrouwemarkt dedicated to the 1st Polish Armoured Division and fallen soldiers, and at the memorial plaque on City Hall, as well as at the municipal cemetery.
In Sint Niklaas, a commemorative Mass was held in honour of those who fell for freedom, including the Polish soldiers of General Maczek’s 1st Polish Armoured Division, followed by a wreath-laying.
In Liège, the ceremony at the Citadel marked the 81st anniversary of the city’s liberation, where Polish nationals are also buried.
In Nevele (Deinze commune), a commemorative plaque was unveiled at the Lovelingbrug Bridge, marking the construction of the “VILNO” bridge over the Schipdonk Canal by the 11th Engineer Company of the 1st Polish Armoured Division in September 1944, used by soldiers fighting for the liberation of northern Belgium.
In Eksaarde/Lokeren, a wreath was laid at the plaque dedicated to the 1st Polish Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, marking the 81st anniversary of the city’s liberation by soldiers of General Stanisław Maczek’s 1st Polish Armoured Division.
In Ruiselede, representatives attended Holy Mass and the march to the Chapel of Peace, with wreath-laying in tribute to the soldiers of the 1st Polish Armoured Division who fell in the battle for the city’s liberation in September 1944.
In Adegem, wreaths were laid at the Cross of Sacrifice at the Canadian War Cemetery, in tribute to the soldiers of General Maczek’s 1st Polish Armoured Division.
In Lommel, a Holy Mass was held in memory of the soldiers of the 1st Polish Armoured Division, followed by ceremonies at the monument to the victims of both World Wars and at the Polish War Cemetery, resting place of 257 Polish soldiers, in the presence of the Representative of the King.
In De Klinge, the ceremony commemorated three soldiers of General Maczek’s 1st Polish Armoured Division who fell on 14 September 1944.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all those who preserve the memory of the 1944 liberation and to those paying tribute to the courage and sacrifice of the Polish soldiers who fought for the freedom of both countries.
