Hire a private WWI battlefield guide in Belgium
To hire a private battlefield guide in Belgium it helps to know what the guide is actually qualified to do. This page sets out the training, the site permits and the professional memberships, so you can judge before booking.
Military background
I served as First Sergeant in the Belgian Army Airborne, 1st Para Battalion. That service gave me firsthand insight into military operations, leadership and discipline, and it informs how I read terrain and explain what happened on it.
What a private guide covers
Every tour is private and fully customised. There are no fixed routes and no group pressure — you say what matters to you, whether that is particular sites, a family connection, a period or a pace, and the itinerary is designed around it.
Logistics are included: transport, scheduling and guiding are all arranged, with pickup from your hotel, the airport, a train station or the harbour.
If you are tracing a relative, send the details ahead of the visit. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission database is the usual starting point for Commonwealth burials and memorials, and the route can then be planned around what it turns up. That kind of visit is described on the page about battlefield tours for veterans and their families.
Hire a guide with a vehicle, or a guide only
Most visitors take a full day in the eight-seat minibus or the fifteen-seat midbus. For groups with their own coach, or for parties up to fifty, coaches are arranged with licensed professional drivers while the guiding stays the same. Vehicle details are under small group battlefield tours.
What to send before the tour
The more detail sent in advance, the better the day can be prepared. Useful starting points are a full name with regiment or unit, a service number and date of death when tracing someone, any photographs or documents, and a note about mobility or how long the party can comfortably be on their feet.
Booking a private battlefield guide
+32 497 645 645 · peter@battlefields1.com. Send your dates, numbers and what you would like to see. Tours are quoted clearly in advance with no hidden fees; the basis is set out under battlefield tour prices.
Hiring a private battlefield guide — common questions
What does the certification cover?
A three-and-a-half year Battlefield Tour Guide certification for the First and Second World Wars through Syntra West, plus a separate two-year Certified European Tour Guide qualification.
What does "permitted guide" mean?
Some historical sites require guides to hold a permit for that site. These permits are held for the Battle of the Bulge sites at Bastogne, the Wellington Museum at Waterloo, and the city of Bruges for walking tours.
Can both world wars be guided?
Yes. The certification covers WWI and WWII, and both are represented in Belgium.
Is guiding available in our own coach?
Yes, and for groups up to fifty.
Which languages?
English, Dutch, French and German.