After the battle is a new video mapping experience at the Domain of Waterloo that brings to life the scientific, industrial and technological advances that followed the history-changing victory. Its inauguration on 18 June marked the 211th anniversary of the 1815 battle and precedes the traditional reenactment of the conflict on 27 and 28 June. The show explores how the outcome of the bloody clash heralded a hundred years of progress, innovation and transformation. Narrated by its victor, the Duke of Wellington, it presents key
discoveries and scientific breakthroughs in the 19th century. A cast of historical character fill the narrative, from Charles Darwin, James Watt and Marie Curie, to the army of factory workers whose labour underpinned industry. Wellington also poses a series of questions to the audience about whether they have confidence in society’s progression, including advances in communication and social justice. The video mapping is presented as “a world first” for its AI-fuelled digital technology that records viewers’ own instinctive responses to these questions on whether these
rapid advances have been positive or negative. “Your emotions, reactions and choices influence your journey and bring to life an ever-evolving narrative,” says the domain. The 15-minute show runs until the end of the year although there is a possibility that it will be extended, said the domain’s director Thibault Danthine. He believes the new attraction completes the site’s current offer, which includes The Memorial 1815 and The Panorama. “It aims to engage viewers and make them reflect on progress in society,” he added. A
commemoration ceremony honoured the 9,000 soldiers who were killed in the battle, alongside the 22,000 wounded. After a bugler played the traditional Last Post salute to the fallen, wreath and flowers were laid at the foot of the memorial wall. “The search for peace is one of the biggest lessons that this battlefield passes on to us,” said Dantinne. Hougoumont Farm at centre of reenactment weekend A highlight of the commemorative weekend on 27 and 28 June is the new show Waterloo: At the Heart
of the Battles of Hougoumont. Staged on Saturday at 19.30 and Sunday at 10.30, Hougoumont farm serves as a historical backdrop for this immersive experience. As the Anglo-Allied army’s advance defence position, the site was the scene of fierce fighting. Visitors will witness three key moments of the attack on the farm: the assault on the North Gate, the fighting in the gardens and the fierce defence of the farm walls. Spectators can freely move around to follow in real time the progression of this
decisive episode of the battle. They will experience firsthand the intensity of the clashes between the two sides, said the domain. They are also invited to visit a military camp at Hougoumont that reveals the daily lives of Allied soldiers. Bivouacs, several demonstrations and a civilian village occupied by artisans and traditional craftspeople recreate the atmosphere of an early 19th-century community. The other sites of the Waterloo Battlefield Estate (1815 Memorial, Panorama, Lion’s Mound) are also accessible with a combined entrance ticket. At Napoleon’s Last
Headquarters (Vieux-Genappe), visitors will discover the life of French soldiers in their bivouac with activities such as cartridge making, preparing horses for battle, medical care. They will also have the opportunity to play wooden games and visit a school for young children. Napoleon, who commanded the French Imperial Army, is naturally a towering figure throughout the weekend. Beyond the historical reenactment, the commemoration is a moment to recall its significance today, commented Tanguy Stuckens, president of the provincial college in charge of Napoleon’s Last Headquarters.
“211 years later, the Battle of Waterloo continues to resonate. A decisive turning point in European history, it is part of a legacy that imposes the duty of remembrance. Remembering, here in Walloon Brabant and everywhere else, means grasping the fragility of the balance of peace and understanding that it is up to each generation to preserve it.” The battle that changed the course of history in Europe The two-day battle in 1815 brought to an end 23 years of conflict in Europe. Belgium was
then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and Waterloo was a strategic location for an army of European allies determined to prevent the French commander Napoleon reaching the capital. If Napoleon met his Waterloo in the agricultural fields around Braine L’Alleud, the rural area around Mont-Saint-Jean was indelibly transformed by the conflict. In the ensuing months after the French defeat, families of the dead and wounded travelled to the battlefields. It soon became a memorial site and ultimately an international tourist destination. The
hub of the sprawling location is the memorial museum that was constructed under the battlefield for its 200th anniversary. Lying adjacent to the Lion’s Mound, which dominates the surrounding landscape, its modern scenography boasts digital and interactive displays. More than 70 models in uniform, a film and a giant model of the battle scene with more than 10,000 characters at a scale of 1/72 illustrate the historical context and battle scenes. Visitors can also view the 1912 giant panorama canvas, broadcast in 3D audio surround.
Other attractions include Napoleon’s final HQ, La Belle Alliance and the Wellington Museum, where the duke slept before and after the battle, in addition to Hougoumont farm. Like many of the buildings and monuments in and around Waterloo, it was completely renovated for the bicentenary of the battle in 2015. The iconic Butte du Lion was built from 1824 to1826 at the presumed location where the Prince of Orange suffered a shoulder injury. Visitors can climb its 226 steps for an exceptional panoramic view of
the battlefield. It recently reopened following a five-month closure for major repairs and renovation. Photos: After the battle show ©The Bulletin; Reenactment of fighting ©Jean-François Schmitz; military camp ©Province Walloon Brabant; battlefield reenactment ©Province Walloon Brabant; The Lion’s Mound ©Regie desbatiments
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