“We Are the Masters” The Prioritized Reconstruction of Ypres (Belgium, World War I)

Abstract

This chapter examines the political dynamics surrounding the reconstruction of Ypres, Belgium, after World War I. It highlights the conflicting agendas of local, national, and international actors. The Belgian state viewed reconstruction as a reassertion of sovereignty, while municipal authorities prioritized local needs. The British Commonwealth sought to commemorate its wartime sacrifices. These political frictions, enabling the prioritization of housing and public infrastructure over monumental heritage, and the temporality of reconstruction efforts, ultimately facilitated a slow but successful reconstruction. The chapter argues for the importance of local agency and open-ended reconstruction projects in post-conflict heritage restoration.