WW I Awareness Research. Visit Flanders Research Department

Transcription

1 WW I Awareness Research 2013 Visit Flanders Research Department

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3 WW I awareness inquiry To Visit Flanders, in its capacity as a knowledge and strategy-driven marketing organisation, this exploration of the awareness of WW I in ten selected countries is an important source of information. The findings of this survey will enable Visit Flanders to host commemorations during the period in an appropriate fashion. On the basis of monitoring, the agency is able to develop well-founded promotion and to set the right tone when creating the WW I tourism product. The commemoration of WW I presents Visit Flanders with a major challenge, namely to bridge the sensitivity that surrounds this dark chapter in our history and the economic, social and symbolic benefits that commemorative tourism can bring to the region. Therefore, Tourism + is what we strive for, as the commemoration is about much more than tourism. WW I tourism does not merely involve making cultural heritage accessible to the public. An atmosphere for meaning and reflection is created. In many cases, the personal involvement of war tourists runs deeper than for leisure or business tourism. This is why we take a special approach. Respect is paramount, and we acknowledge that commemoration can be expressed in many ways. Therefore, we are open to a wide range of voices and traditions with respect to commemoration. Research supports the WW I commemoration project. Before the Great War Centenary commences, Visit Flanders examines the extent to which people in Belgium and abroad are familiar with WW I destinations in Flanders. In other words, what is the level of awareness regarding WW I? To what extent are people in different countries interested in WW I and what is their attitude towards commemorations for the Great War? This knowledge is to be shared, with the survey results being made available to our partners in the tourist sector.

4 Table of contents WW I awareness inquiry... 3 Table of contents Survey via international panels Top-of-mind destinations Familiarity with Flanders Fields Attitude towards/interest in WW I commemoration Respondent background General conclusions Highlights per country United Kingdom (n=408) Ireland (n=366) Australia (n=301) New Zealand (n=303) Canada (n=308) United States (n=299) Dutch-speaking Belgians (n=203) French-speaking Belgians (n=202) : North Rhine-Westphalia (n=199) Rest of (n=207)... 35

5 3.12 : Nord-Pas de Calais and Ile de (n=345) Rest of (n=628) Netherlands (n=407)... 41

6 1. Survey via international panels To what extent are Flemish WW I sites top-of-mind? Visit Flanders explored this question by means of a survey conducted in 10 different countries: Australia, Belgium, Canada,,, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. The survey targeted these specific countries because they are a potential source of visitors interested in WW I. All respondents in the panel are at least 18 years old and have travelled outside their country at some point in the last three years. A quota for the number of respondents was set for each country. Designated quota Actual number of respondents Australia Belgium 200 French-speaking Belgians and 200 Dutch-speaking Belgians 202 French-speaking Belgians and 203 Dutch-speaking Belgians Canada in North Rhine-Westphalia and 200 in the rest of 199 in North Rhine-Westphalia and 207 in the rest of 200 in Nord-Pas de Calais and Ile de 142 in Nord-Pas de Calais and Ile de and 200 in the rest of and 267 in the rest of Ireland Netherlands New Zealand United Kingdom United States These quotas make sure that we can come to sufficiently reliable conclusions for each country. However, it is not possible to give an overall result based on this data. Because we do not have an overview of the whole population - people aged 18+ who have travelled at some point in the last three years weighing the data is not recommended. The survey was conducted from 11 to 18 June 2013 inclusive. The first questions of the survey were very general, as to give no indication that Visit Flanders was the commissioning body. In the first question, we explored the association between battles and Europe in general. From these answers we deduced people s level of awareness concerning WW I in general and for Flemish destinations in particular. The question that followed, addressed WW I destinations 4

7 specifically. We then probed the extent to which people are familiar with Flanders Fields as a destination. Finally, we examined the attitude towards WW I commemoration, the personal connection via ancestors and the intention to take part in commemorative tourism. Due to local nuances in the perceptions of WW I, the survey makes regional distinctions within certain countries. Specific regions of Belgium, and are therefore addressed in addition to these countries as a whole. French-speaking Belgians do not necessarily think the same way about WW I as Dutch-speaking Belgians do. In, the focus is on North Rhine-Westphalia; in, it is on Nord-Pas de Calais and Ile de. For the United States panel, we selected respondents from the Northeast, California and Kansas. This regional distinction is relevant with regards to the WW I commemoration programme audiences. The survey results will help Visit Flanders to effectively reach out to these particular regions. 2.1 Top-of-mind destinations The British are able to list the most battlefields in Europe. New Zealanders, Irish people and French people from Ile de and Nord-Pas de Calais are also able to identify many specific locations. Americans have limited knowledge concerning historic European battlefields. Germans likewise cite few locations, though they frequently mention certain places such as Teutoburger Wald and Leipzig. Waterloo and Normandy are clearly top-of-mind in all the surveyed countries, with the exception of the part of that does not include North Rhine- Westphalia. World War I destinations rank high in New Zealand and in the United Kingdom. There is a strong consciousness concerning WW I in Belgium,, Ireland, Australia and Canada. Awareness is much lower in the other countries and regions, especially in the U.S. The Somme is stated most, though Ieper (Ypres) and Verdun are also cited very often. Gallipoli and Vimy are heavily associated with specific countries: Gallipoli with Australia and New Zealand, and Canada with Vimy. What is striking is that Verdun enjoys an exceptionally high recognition in a number of countries, for example in, French-speaking Belgium and. Half of all French respondents name Verdun. Ypres ranks high in Dutch-speaking Belgium, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Ireland. Dutch-speaking Belgians make the most associations with places in Flanders. New Zealanders also mention Flanders and Passchendaele fairly often. Among New Zealanders Passchendaele scores highest. In Australia, the term Flanders tends to prevail, while in Canada this tends to be Flanders Fields. 5

8 Table 1: In your opinion, what are the 3 most important historic battlefields in Europe? (Percentage of people giving this response; only the relevant and most important answers) United Kingdom Ireland Australia New Zealand Canada United States Dutch-speaking Belgians Frenchspeaking Belgians North Rhine- Westphalia Rest of Ile de and Nord Pas de Calais Rest of Netherlands Ypres 15.7% 6.0% 3.0% 6.9% 2.9% 0.7% 20.2% 4.0% 1.0% 2.4% 0.7% 0.0% 3.2% Flanders 6.6% 7.4% 5.6% 6.6% 0.6% 1.3% 10.3% 0.0% 0.0% 1.4% 0.0% 0.0% 0.2% Passchendaele 3.4% 1.4% 0.7% 6.6% 1.6% 0.0% 2.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Flanders Fields 2.2% 0.8% 0.7% 1.3% 3.9% 1.0% 1.5% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% The Yser 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 10.3% 3.5% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.4% 0.5% The Somme 44.6% 28.1% 14.0% 23.4% 4.2% 1.3% 2.0% 2.0% 1.5% 1.4% 2.8% 2.3% 2.7% Verdun 2.5% 1.1% 0.7% 1.7% 1.6% 2.3% 7.9% 31.2% 12.6% 19.3% 50.7% 48.5% 9.3% Gallipoli 0.5% 3.0% 19.3% 28.7% 1.0% 0.3% 0.5% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Vimy 0.0% 0.3% 0.0% 0.0% 20.1% 0.0% 0.0% 1.0% 0.0% 0.0% 1.4% 0.4% 0.0% Waterloo 22.1% 21.0% 18.6% 20.5% 16.9% 16.1% 66.0% 88.1% 26.1% 0.5% 47.9% 41.0% 46.9% Hastings 21.3% 14.5% 7.0% 8.3% 2.9% 4.3% 4.9% 1.5% 0.0% 0.0% 0.7% 0.0% 2.0% Azincourt 7.4% 2.2% 3.0% 3.6% 1.9% 1.0% 0.5% 1.0% 1.0% 0.0% 4.9% 0.4% 0.0% Normandy 19.9% 26.5% 11.6% 16.2% 27.6% 36.1% 23.6% 22.3% 15.1% 2.4% 20.4% 19.2% 27.8% Stalingrad 1.2% 5.5% 2.0% 4.0% 2.3% 1.3% 3.9% 7.9% 8.5% 0.0% 9.9% 5.3% 6.6% Dunkirk 14.7% 8.2% 4.3% 7.6% 4.2% 2.0% 2.5% 1.0% 2.5% 0.5% 0.0% 0.0% 5.2% We probed the respondents further in order to ascertain the level of familiarity of different destinations with a WW I history. Overall, the Somme, Verdun and Ypres are named most often. In only a small number of countries respondents name Flanders and Passchendaele. The Yser appears to only be significant for Belgians. Only the French and French-speaking Belgians associate WW I with the Marne. A fifth or more of respondents in and the Netherlands provide no answer, which isn t surprising given the limited number of associations generated by the previous question. Comparing the results of the second question with the first creates interesting insights. It appears that a number of locations are recognised as historic battles but that they are not associated with WW I. These battlefields seem to be symbols that came apart from their context. This is the case with Vimy for Canadians and with Gallipoli for New Zealanders and Australians. Both of these destinations ranked high among these nationalities on the previous 6

9 question, but less so in this case. Flemish locations, on the other hand, are more often cited as a WW I destination than as a European battlefield. Certain Flemish sites are firmly associated with WW I. Table 2: What European sites/regions/areas do you associate with the First World War ( )? (Percentage of people giving this response) United Kingdom Ireland Australia New- Zealand Canada United States Belgium Dutchspeaking Belgium French Speaking North Rhine- Westphalia Rest of Ile de and Nord Pas de Calais Rest of Netherlands Belgium 20,6% 17,5% 11,0% 14,5% 11,4% 8,4% 13,3% 19,3% 3,0% 4,8% 5,1% 2,3% 14,3% 42,2% 48,4% 39,5% 47,5% 43,5% 40,5% 15,8% 28,7% 19,6% 19,3% 17,5% 14,9% 22,1% 36,0% 53,6% 46,2% 46,9% 50,3% 51,5% 27,1% 34,2% 25,6% 24,6% 16,6% 13,9% 32,2% United Kingdom 6,1% 12,0% 10,0% 12,5% 15,9% 12,7% 7,4% 2,5% 6,0% 3,9% 1,5% 1,2% 7,9% Great-Britain 2,2% 5,2% 4,3% 4,3% 6,2% 2,7% 1,0% 1,0% 0,5% 0,5% 1,5% 0,2% 0,0% Turkey 1,0% 0,8% 10,0% 14,5% 0,3% 0,7% 0,0% 0,5% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,2% Russia 3,4% 10,1% 8,0% 10,2% 8,8% 11,4% 2,0% 4,5% 8,0% 6,8% 0,6% 2,1% 4,2% Ypres 10,3% 4,6% 2,7% 5,0% 4,2% 2,0% 35,5% 7,9% 1,5% 2,4% 0,0% 0,4% 7,4% Flanders 7,4% 4,9% 4,7% 4,6% 1,6% 1,3% 0,5% 0,5% 3,0% 1,4% 0,0% 0,8% 1,0% Passchendaele 2,9% 0,8% 1,0% 2,6% 1,9% 0,7% 3,4% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 1,0% Flanders Fields 0,7% 0,0% 0,3% 1,0% 1,0% 0,0% 1,5% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,2% The Yser 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 15,3% 22,3% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 1,5% Sum 21,3% 10,4% 8,6% 13,2% 8,8% 4,0% 56,2% 30,7% 4,5% 3,9% 0,0% 1,1% 11,1% Somme 20,1% 9,6% 7,6% 8,9% 3,9% 3,7% 4,9% 4,0% 2,0% 1,4% 9,9% 5,6% 3,2% Verdun 3,7% 2,2% 0,0% 0,7% 1,3% 2,7% 8,4% 26,7% 15,1% 19,3% 31,0% 33,8% 12,8% Marne / Chemin des 0,2% 0,3% 0,7% 0,0% 0,6% 1,0% 1,0% 9,4% 0,5% 0,5% 16,9% 15,0% 0,2% dames Vimy 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 2,9% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 2,8% 0,0% 0,0% Fromelles 0,0% 0,0% 2,3% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% 0,0% Sum 24,0% 12,0% 10,6% 9,6% 8,8% 7,4% 14,3% 40,1% 17,6% 21,3% 60,6% 54,5% 16,2% 7

10 United Kingdom Ireland Australia New- Zealand Canada United States Belgium Dutchspeaking Belgium French Speaking North Rhine- Westphalia Rest of Ile de and Nord Pas de Calais Rest of Netherlands Gallipoli 2,0% 2,2% 11,0% 12,2% 0,6% 1,7% 1,5% 0,0% 1,0% 0,0% 0,0% 1,5% 0,5% Don t know 13,0% 8,7% 15,9% 13,2% 14,6% 17,7% 8,9% 6,4% 23,6% 21,7% 4,9% 5,3% 19,2% # answers per respondent* 2,09 2,35 2,00 2,27 2,06 2,02 2,15 2,25 1,81 1,84 2,28 2,12 1,91 * Don t know is not counted as a response; percentage nonetheless based on all respondents. 2.2 Familiarity with Flanders Fields To what extent are people familiar with Flanders Fields? To answer this question, we first asked respondents to indicate the country in which Flanders Fields is located. We then asked them to name specific locations within Flanders Fields. In many countries, a fifth or more of respondents is unable to name any locations (see table 4). Respondents in every country quote Belgium: from 41% of Australians up to 91% of Dutch-speaking Belgians. In the Commonwealth countries of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom and in the United States, respondents also associate Flanders Fields with. Table 3: In which country/countries is Flanders Fields located? United Kingdom Ireland Australia New Zealand Canada United States Dutch-speaking Belgians Frenchspeaking Belgians North Rhine- Westphalia Rest of Ile de and Nord Pas de Calais Belgium 62.7% 60.7% 40.5% 51.2% 40.6% 51.5% 90.6% 69.8% 71.9% 53.1% 46.3% 46.9% 49.9% 4.2% 3.6% 7.6% 4.3% 7.1% 7.7% 2.0% 0.5% 6.0% 3.9% 3.7% 3.8% 3.4% 18.9% 14.8% 25.6% 19.1% 25.3% 18.7% 3.9% 3.0% 3.5% 5.3% 7.3% 6.8% 7.4% Netherlands 10.5% 10.7% 10.0% 6.9% 13.6% 15.4% 1.0% 11.9% 11.6% 16.9% 20.1% 15.1% 1.7% Rest of Netherlands United 4.4% 0.8% 4.3% 2.6% 7.1% 7.4% 1.0% 2.5% 4.0% 5.3% 6.1% 5.8% 16.0% Kingdom Don t know 13.2% 20.8% 27.2% 28.1% 21.4% 22.7% 5.9% 18.8% 14.1% 24.2% 16.5% 21.6% 32.2% 8

11 Listing locations in Flanders Fields appears to be a difficult question for the respondents. With the exception of Dutch-speaking Belgians, more than half of respondents in all countries are unable to name a single location. In most countries, between two-thirds and three-quarters of those sampled are unable to come up with an answer. In many cases, respondents also name locations which are not located in Flanders Fields. Ypres is clearly the best-known location. Passchendaele is also fairly well-known in Belgium and in the Commonwealth countries. Respondents in the Commonwealth countries also mention the Somme. Table 4: Can you list locations/sites that are located in Flanders Fields? (Percentage of people giving this response) United Kingdom Ireland Australia New Zealand Canada United States Dutchspeaking Belgians Frenchspeaking Belgians North Rhine- Westphalia Rest of Ile de and Nord Pas de Calais Rest of Netherlands Ypres 15.7% 12.0% 10.0% 12.2% 4.5% 6.0% 57.6% 30.2% 12.1% 10.1% 8.7% 6.8% 12.8% Passchendaele 4.7% 4.6% 3.0% 5.9% 1.0% 1.0% 9.9% 2.5% 0.0% 0.5% 0.0% 0.3% 2.0% Diksmuide 0.2% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 12.3% 5.9% 2.0% 1.0% 1.2% 0.0% 1.2% Flanders Fields 0.5% 0.3% 0.3% 0.7% 1.6% 0.7% 1.0% 0.0% 0.5% 1.4% 0.0% 0.3% 0.2% Museum Menin Gate 1.2% 0.0% 0.7% 0.3% 0.3% 0.0% 1.0% 0.5% 0.5% 0.0% 0.0% 0.3% 0.2% Nieuwpoort 0.0% 0.0% 0.3% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2.5% 3.0% 0.0% 0.5% 0.6% 1.0% 0.7% Poperinge 0.5% 0.0% 0.0% 0.3% 0.0% 0.0% 3.0% 0.5% 0.0% 0.5% 0.6% 0.0% 1.0% The Yser 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.5% 3.5% 0.0% 0.0% 1.2% 0.3% 1.0% Waregem 0.0% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.7% 1.0% 0.0% 0.5% 0.5% 0.0% 0.0% 1.0% Mesen 1.0% 0.3% 1.0% 1.0% 0.0% 0.3% 0.0% 0.5% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Langemarck 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 3.0% 0.0% 1.5% 0.5% 0.0% 0.0% 0.2% The Somme 6.9% 8.2% 4.3% 6.6% 1.0% 3.3% 0.0% 0.5% 0.5% 0.0% 0.0% 0.7% 1.2% Verdun 0.7% 0.5% 0.3% 0.0% 0.0% 0.3% 0.0% 0.5% 0.0% 0.0% 0.6% 0.0% 0.0% Don t know 71.8% 74.6% 77.4% 73.6% 76.9% 68.9% 27.59% 61.9% 73.9% 75.4% 55.9% 62.5% 78.4% 9

12 2.3 Attitude towards/interest in WW I commemoration Many respondents set great store by the commemoration of WW I. Only in the Netherlands and in this attitude is rather neutral The British are clearly very committed to remembering WW I. According to the survey, WW I commemoration is - with the exception of the British - more important to non-european countries than it is to European countries. And though Americans have a rather superficial knowledge of WW I, they believe it is very important to commemorate this war. Figure 1: How important do you feel it is to commemorate the First World War ( )? (Distribution of scores and average score) 10

13 To get in-depth insight into the attitude towards WW I, we asked respondents to rate the following statements on a scale from 1 to 10. The British assign a high score to almost every statement, which illustrates a high level of commitment. The Germans and the Dutch assign lower scores than the other countries. Table 5: To what extent do you agree with the following statements (1: Totally disagree - 10: Totally agree): United Kingdom Ireland Australia New Zealand Canada United States Dutch-speaking Belgians Frenchspeaking Belgians North Rhine- Westphalia Rest of Ile de and Nord Pas de Calais Rest of Netherlands We must continue to commemorate WW I out of gratitude for the actions of millions of people. The many victims of WW I remind me of how important it is to avoid armed conflicts. WW I does not interest me I am proud of my ancestors who fought during WW I. Stories about WW I make me anxious and sad. I believe that we should talk about WW I in matter-offact terms

14 The largest segments of people who do not visit any places or attend any events associated with war, can be found among Germans and French-speaking Belgians. Visiting places or attending events that are associated with WW I is something that people mainly do as part of a trip; it is rarely the main purpose of a visit. This was the response of roughly half of the Belgians and the French surveyed. Americans are the most likely to take a trip in which a wartime theme is the primary focus. A third or more of the Irish, New Zealanders and British surveyed restrict themselves to visiting war-related sites that are located in their own area. In the other countries, it is less common to visit sites such as these in one s own area. The war related activity that all nationalities take part in, is visiting commemorative sites, museums and exhibitions. Table 6: When you travel or go on an outing, do you ever visit places or attend events that are historically associated with war? United Kingdom Ireland Australia New Zealand Canada United States Dutch-speaking Belgians Frenchspeaking Belgians North Rhine- Westphalia Rest of Ile de and Nord Pas de Calais Rest of Netherlands Yes, but only in my own area Yes. Sometimes it even forms a component of a trip, but it s never the main focus Yes, sometimes it s even the main focus No, that doesn t interest me 33% 35% 27% 33% 27% 29% 21% 11% 23% 24% 14% 13% 23% 37% 34% 44% 42% 45% 44% 49% 49% 34% 38% 49% 55% 47% 11% 5% 11% 11% 10% 15% 11% 10% 7% 5% 11% 9% 10% 4% 10% 6% 5% 8% 5% 10% 10% 13% 12% 12% 7% 9% No, I prefer to avoid 14% 16% 13% 9% 11% 8% 8% 21% 24% 21% 15% 15% 11% these kinds of places or events Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 12

15 Table 7: What kinds of places do you visit: United Kingdom Ireland Australia New Zealand Canada United States Dutch-speaking Belgians Frenchspeaking Belgians North Rhine- Westphalia Rest of Ile de and Nord Pas de Calais Rest of Netherlands Commemorative 68% 63% 65% 76% 59% 74% 77% 74% 83% 73% 74% 70% 63% sites (cemeteries, monuments, etc.) Museums and 82% 80% 84% 85% 83% 84% 71% 75% 70% 76% 78% 76% 57% exhibitions on commemoration and war Concerts, theatre 11% 13% 14% 8% 18% 26% 5% 4% 11% 12% 13% 12% 7% and other productions related to commemoration and war Official ceremonies 18% 13% 22% 23% 22% 28% 10% 6% 10% 14% 17% 11% 10% related to commemoration and war Routes and tours 22% 26% 26% 30% 35% 35% 38% 35% 19% 28% 35% 33% 26% that focus on war history Other: 1% 2% 2% 4% 2% 3% 2% 1% 2% 4% 0% 0% 1% 13

16 2.4 Respondent background The involvement of one s ancestors in the First World War - and whether one is aware of this involvement - varies sharply from one country to another. The responses by the French panel indicate that more than half of all respondents have ancestors who fought or suffered during the Great War. In the United Kingdom, 44% of those surveyed indicate that their ancestors either fought or suffered during this war. Compared to Belgians, more Australians and New Zealanders answered that their ancestors had been sent to the front lines. Only in the Netherlands and the United States do a large number of respondents indicate that their ancestors were not involved. It is clear that people in the Commonwealth countries are very knowledgeable about their family history. Even though an important part of the Western front was in Belgium, the percentage of those answering don t know was high among the Belgian panel. There are also many respondents in and the Netherlands who are unaware of the connection of their ancestors to WW I. Figure 2: Did your ancestors suffer/fight during the First World War ( )? 14

17 2. General conclusions Before examining the knowledge of respondents regarding WW I locations in Flanders, we asked them to name historic European battlefields. Waterloo and Normandy are clearly top-of-mind in each of the countries surveyed, with the exception of (excluding North Rhine-Westphalia). World War I destinations are mentioned quite often by respondents from New Zealand and the United Kingdom. There is also a strong consciousness concerning WW I in Belgium,, Ireland, Australia and Canada, even when respondents are not directly asked about WW I. This stands in contrast to the other countries, particularly the United States. We inquired further in order to verify the level of familiarity of different destinations with a WW I history. Overall, the Somme, Verdun and Ypres are the WW I battlefields named most often. In only a small number of countries do respondents cite Flanders and Passchendaele. The Yser appears to only be significant for Belgians. A fifth or more of respondents from and the Netherlands cannot provide an answer. One key finding is that Flemish sites are often cited as WW I destinations. This means that Flanders is associated with WW I. In the next part of the survey, we assessed respondents familiarity with Flanders Fields. This proved to be a difficult exercise. The respondents usually locate Flanders Fields in Belgium, but there also exists a strong association with. Ypres ranks high in several countries, and Passchendaele is also cited fairly often. Flanders does appear to be fairly well-known in the Commonwealth countries. Overall, respondents are clearly more familiar with the Somme and Verdun than the sites located in Flanders. After assessing the knowledge of the respondents, we wanted to know more about their attitude towards WW I commemorations. In general, respondents exhibit a positive attitude. The British and inhabitants of other Commonwealth countries attach a particularly high degree of importance to commemorations, while the Dutch and Germans take a more neutral stance. We also wanted to find out whether our respondents ever visit places or attend events with reference to war. It appears they do. Respondents tend to favour commemorative sites, museums and exhibitions - and to a somewhat lesser extent, themed routes. Official ceremonies, concerts, theatre and other productions rank somewhat lower. People mainly visit places or attend events associated with war as a component of a trip. It is rarely the primary focus of a visit. Only amongst American respondents war sometimes appears to be the predominant focus of a trip. 15

18 Finally, we examined whether our respondents had a connections with WW I via ancestors, as these family ties may add an extra, more personal dimension to the commemorations. The involvement of one s ancestors in the First World War - and whether or not one is aware of this involvement - varies depending on one s country of origin. The responses given by the French and British panels indicate that roughly half of all respondents have ancestors who fought or endured hardship during the Great War. Compared to Belgians, more Australians and New Zealanders answered that their ancestors had been sent to the front lines. Only in the Netherlands and the United States a large number of respondents indicates that their ancestors were not involved. It is clear that people in the Commonwealth countries are very knowledgeable about their family history. Even though an important part of the Western front ran through Belgium, the percentage of Belgian respondents answering don t know was high. There are also many respondents in and the Netherlands who are unaware of whether or not their ancestors have a connection with WW I. 16

19 4. Highlights per country 3.1 United Kingdom (n=408) Top 5 battlefields in Europe 1 The Somme 45% 2 Waterloo 22% 3 Hastings 21% 4 Normandy 20% 5 Ypres 16% Top 5 WW I battlefields 1 42% 2 36% 3 Belgium 21% 4 The Somme 20% 5 Don t know 13% Top 5 sites in Flanders Fields 1 Don t know 72% 2 Ypres 16% 3 Passchendaele 5% 4 The Somme 7% 5 Belgium 2% Family members involved in WW I Yes 44% No 23% Don t know 33% 11% 19% 4% 13% Location Flanders Fields 63% Belgium Netherlands United Kingdom Don't know 4% 17

20 Score for emotional significance of WW I (1-10) 60,0% 50,0% 40,0% 30,0% 20,0% 10,0% 0,0% Summary Top-of-mind European battlefields for the United Kingdom are the Somme (45%), Waterloo (22%) and Hastings (21%). Ypres is ranked fifth (16%) and Flanders is ranked eighth at 7%. The Somme likewise tops the list at 20% when respondents are asked what battlefields they associate with WW I. Ypres is ranked third (10%), and the association with Flanders (7%) is also made. More than half of all respondents place Flanders Fields in Belgium. It is important to note that almost one-fifth indicate that Flanders Fields is in. Listing locations or sites located in Flanders Fields appears to be a difficult task. Almost three-quarters of respondents are unable to provide an answer. Ypres is by far the best-known place in Flanders Fields among those surveyed in the United Kingdom. Both Passchendaele and the Somme are also mentioned by UK respondents. 4% 14% Commemorative tourism? 33% Yes, but only in my own area When asked about their attitude towards WW I, the British display a very high level of engagement. They sometimes visit places that are historically associated with war, particularly in their own area (33%) and as a component of an outing (37%). In limited cases it forms the main focus of a trip (11%). When people are asked about what kind of war-related places they visit, museums and exhibitions, as well as commemorative sites such as cemeteries and monuments, rank the highest. UK residents are well-informed regarding the involvement of their ancestors in WW I. 11% Yes. Sometimes it even forms a component of a trip, but it s never the main focus Yes, sometimes it s even the main focus 37% 18

21 3.2 Ireland (n=366) Top 5 battlefields in Europe 1 The Somme 28% 2 Normandy 27% 3 Waterloo 21% 4 Hastings 14% 5 9% Top 5 WW I battlefields 1 54% 2 48% 3 Belgium 17% 4 England 12% 5 Russia 10% Top 5 sites in Flanders Fields 1 Don t know 75% 2 Ypres 12% 3 Passchendaele 8% 4 the Somme 5% 5 Bruges 2% Family members involved in WW I Yes 28% No 35% Don t know 38% 21% 1% 11% 15% Location Flanders Fields 61% Belgium Netherlands United Kingdom Don't know 4% 19

22 35,0% 30,0% 25,0% 20,0% 15,0% 10,0% 5,0% 0,0% Score for emotional significance of WW I (1-10) Commemoration tourism? Summary The Irish are fairly knowledgeable about historic battlefields in Europe. They list the Somme, Normandy, Waterloo and Hastings. Flanders and Ypres are also cited. Their association with WW I battlefields is somewhat weaker. Respondents are often unable to name battlefields, though 8.6% name the Somme, 4.9% think of Flanders and 4.6% of Ypres. 60% of respondents know that Flanders Fields is in Belgium, while 15% and 10% associate the term with and the Netherlands, respectively. Another 20% say they do not know where Flanders Fields is located. Naming places in Flanders Fields appears to be quite a challenge for the Irish respondents. Three-quarters say they do not know any places, while others do cite Ypres, the Somme and Passchendaele. Though their knowledge of Flanders Fields is at times limited, the Irish attach a fairly high degree of importance to commemoration, and their engagement is high as well. This sometimes prompts them to visit commemorative sites or museums, but not as the main objective of a holiday. As to whether their ancestors fought in the war, respondents often did not know this, though 28% indicate that this was indeed the case. 16% Yes, but only in my own area 35% 10% 5% 34% Yes. Sometimes it even forms a component of a trip, but it s never the main focus Yes, sometimes it s even the main focus 20

23 3.3 Australia (n=301) Top 5 battlefields in Europe 1 Gallipoli 19% 2 Waterloo 19% 3 The Somme 14% 4 13% 5 13% Top 5 WW I battlefields 1 46% 2 40% 3 Gallipoli 11% 4 Belgium 11% 5 England 10% Top 5 sites in Flanders Fields 1 Don t know 77% Location Flanders Fields 2 Ypres 10% 3 Passchendaele 3% 4 Somme 2% 5 2% 27% 41% Belgium Family members involved in WW I Yes 40% No 28% Don t know 32% 4% 10% Netherlands United Kingdom Don't know 8% 26% 21

24 Score for emotional significance of WW I (1-10) 40,0% 35,0% 30,0% 25,0% 20,0% 15,0% 10,0% 5,0% 0,0% 11% 6% % Commemoration tourism? 27% Yes, but only in my own area Yes. Sometimes it even forms a component of a trip, but it s never the main focus Yes, sometimes it s even the main focus Summary Australians have a fairly good understanding of locations associated with war in Europe, and the First World War ranks high in this regard. The European location most often cited is Gallipoli, followed by Waterloo and the Somme. Flanders also ranks high. It is interesting to note that Flanders enjoys better name recognition than Ypres. When asked more specifically about WW I locations, it turns out that Gallipoli still ranks the highest, though it is cited less often than in response to the more general question concerning European battlefields. The same applies to the Somme. Flanders, on the other hand, maintains roughly the same percentage. Australians who are familiar with Flanders thus associate it quite heavily with World War I, while this is not always the case with Gallipoli and the Somme. Compared to other nationalities, Australians are not as good at locating Flanders Fields. A fairly high number of respondents say they do not know where it is. Though Belgium is named by the largest percentage, this share is smaller than that of the other nationalities. There is also a large share that names. A considerable number of Australians are also unable to list any locations in Flanders Fields. The places which are associated with Flanders Fields, are Ypres and Passchendaele. Flanders Fields is not as well known among Australians as in the other countries, despite the fact that Flanders ranks high as a WW I destination. Australians attach a great deal of importance to the commemoration of WW I. For them, it is very important to show our gratitude for the sacrifices made by millions of people. Australians are clearly proud of their ancestors that fought during the war. They believe that WW I should be spoken of in a reverential way. When travelling, Australians visit commemorative sites now and then. For a segment of Australians, this can be the main focus (11%) of an outing. 40% of respondents indicate that they have ancestors who suffered or fought during the war. This link to one s ancestors is important because people often display more interest in the commemoration of WW I if they have a personal connection to it. No, that doesn t interest me 22 44%

25 3.4 New Zealand (n=303) Top 5 battlefields in Europe Top 5 WW I battlefields 1 Gallipoli 29% 2 The Somme 23% 3 Don t know 21% 4 Waterloo 20% 5 Normandy 16% 1 48% 2 47% 3 Belgium 15% 4 Turkey 15% 5 England 13% Top 4 sites in Flanders Fields Location Flanders Fields 1 Don t know 74% 2 Ypres 12% 3 The Somme 7% 4 Passchendaele 6% 28% Belgium Family members involved in WW I Yes 42% No 23% Don t know 35% 3% 7% 51% Netherlands United Kingdom Don't know 19% 4% 23

26 40,0% 35,0% 30,0% 25,0% 20,0% 15,0% 10,0% 5,0% 0,0% Emotional significance WW I (score 1-10) Summary When asked about European battlefields, New Zealanders make the connection with WW I. The following battlefields in Europe score highest: Gallipoli, the Somme and Waterloo. When asked specifically what battlefields they associate with WW I, Gallipoli comes first, followed by the Somme. New Zealanders appear to be quicker to make an association with places in Flanders than Australians. The majority of respondents place Flanders Fields in Belgium, but just as in other Commonwealth countries, the association with is also made. Ypres, Passchendaele and the Somme are cited as places in Flanders Fields. What particularly stands out with New Zealand is the strong association with Passchendaele. 11% 5% 9% 3.5 Canada (n=308) Commemoration tourism? 33% Yes, but only in my own area Yes. Sometimes it even forms a component of a trip, but it s never the main focus Yes, sometimes it s even the main focus No, that doesn t interest me New Zealanders exhibit a high level of engagement and interest in the commemoration of WW I. They usually visit places or attend events which are historically associated with war as a component of a trip or in their own area. 42% of respondents indicate that they have ancestors who suffered or fought during the war. 42% No, I prefer to avoid these kinds of places or events 24

27 3.5 Canada (n= 308) Top 5 battlefields in Europe 1 Normandy 28% 2 Vimy Ridge 20% 3 Waterloo 17% 4 Dieppe 11% 5 9% Top 5 WW I battlefields 1 48% 2 44% 3 England 16% 4 Belgium 11% 5 Russia 9% Top 4 sites in Flanders Fields Location Flanders Fields 1 Don t know 77% 2 Ypres 5% 3 Cemetery 4% 4 Vimy 2% 21% 41% Belgium Family members involved in WW I 7% Yes 42% No 23% Don t know 35% 14% Netherlands United Kingdom Don't know 7% 25% 25

28 40,0% Emotional significance WOI (score 1-10) 35,0% 30,0% 25,0% 20,0% 15,0% 10,0% 5,0% 0,0% % Commemoration tourism? Yes, but only in my own area Summary Normandy (28%), Vimy (20%) and Waterloo (17%) are the top-of-mind European battlefields for Canadians. Naming places that are associated with WW I appears to be quite difficult. At just 4%, Ypres is the most cited location. What s also striking is that Vimy, despite its link to Canada and the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, is not mentioned as a WW I battlefield. Canadians heavily associate Flanders Fields with Belgium (41%), though a quarter also make the association with. It is considerably more difficult for Canadians to list places in Flanders Fields than it is for respondents of other countries. Familiarity with Flanders Fields appears to be rather limited. Despite this limited knowledge, Canadians feel it is important to commemorate the First World War. They usually visit places or attend events which are historically associated with war as a component of a trip or in their own area. 38% of respondents indicate that they have ancestors who suffered or fought during the war. 10% 8% 27% Yes. Sometimes it even forms a component of a trip, but it s never the main focus Yes, sometimes it s even the main focus No, that doesn t interest me 45% No, I prefer to avoid these kinds of places or events 26

29 3.6 United States (n=299) Top 5 battlefields in Europe Top 5 WW I battlefields 1 Normandy 36% 2 Don t know 24% 3 Waterloo 16% 4 9% 5 8% 1 52% 2 40% 3 Don t know 18% 4 England 13% 5 Russia 11% Top 5 sites in Flanders Fields Location Flanders Fields 1 Don t know 69% 2 Ypres 6% 3 Belgium 4% 4 Netherlands 3% 5 American cemetery 3% 7% 23% 52% Belgium Family members involved in WW I Yes 30% No 42% Don t know 28% 15% 19% 8% Netherlands United Kingdom Don't know 27

30 35,0% 30,0% 25,0% 20,0% 15,0% 10,0% 5,0% 0,0% Emotional significance WW I (score 1-10) Summary The top-of-mind European battlefields for Americans are Normandy and Waterloo. The Somme, Verdun and Ypres are associated with WW I, but apart from these locations, the knowledge of Americans concerning WW I battlefields is fairly limited. Roughly half of respondents place Flanders Fields in Belgium, though, the Netherlands and are also named. The majority of American respondents are unable to identify sites in Flanders Fields. At just 6%, Ypres is the one cited most often. Despite having a rather limited knowledge of the First World War, Americans attach a high degree of importance to its commemoration. They are the group that most often visit places or attend events which are historically associated with war as the main focus of a trip, and they are even more likely to make it a component of their trip. 30% of respondents indicate that they have ancestors who suffered or fought during the WW I. Commemoration tourism? 5% 8% 29% Yes, but only in my own area 15% Yes. Sometimes it even forms a component of a trip, but it s never the main focus Yes, sometimes it s even the main focus No, that doesn t interest me 28 44%

31 3.7 Dutch-speaking Belgians (n=203) Top 5 battlefields in Europe Top 5 WW I battlefields 1 Waterloo 66% 2 Normandy 24% 3 Ypres 20% 4 The Yser 10% 5 Ardennes 10% 1 Ypres 35% 2 27% 3 16% 4 The Yser 15% 5 Belgium 13% Top 5 sites in Flanders Fields 1 Ypres 58% 2 Don t know 28% 3 Diksmuide 12% 4 Passchendaele 10% 5 Menen 4% 2% 1% 1% 6% 4% Location Flanders Fields Belgium Family members involved in WW I Netherlands United Kingdom Yes 39% No 18% Don t know 43% 91% Don't know 29

32 25,0% 20,0% 15,0% 10,0% 5,0% 0,0% Emotional significance WW I (score 1-10) Summary Among Belgians, Waterloo is the top-of-mind European battlefield. Dutch speakers often name WW I sites in Flanders, while French-speaking Belgians do so quite rarely. Verdun is a place that is often named by French speakers. With regards to World War I, Dutch-speakers make the association with Ypres the most. The Yser is also heavily associated with WW I. Among French-speaking Belgians, Verdun is the location that most often comes to mind, followed closely by the Yser. Interestingly, Frenchspeaking Belgians often mention Verdun as a European battlefield, but they don t always make the association with WW I. This is in contrast to the results for the Yser, which does not particularly rank top-of-mind, but is heavily associated with WW I. The Yser is a location that only scores high among Belgians. Belgians obviously associate Flanders Fields very heavily with Belgium. What s striking is that nearly a fifth of French-speakers are unable to associate it with any country. For French-speakers, listing sites that are associated with Flanders Fields is not a given. The only place that is known is Ypres. Most Dutch speakers are able to list sites, and they also name Ypres more than any other. Passchendaele and Diksmuide also rank very high. 11% 10% 8% Commemoration tourism? 21% Yes, but only in my own area Yes. Sometimes it even forms a component of a trip, but it s never the main focus Yes, sometimes it s even the main focus No, that doesn t interest me Belgians feel that it is important to commemorate the First World War, but there are still other nationalities that attach even more importance to this. Belgians believe it is important to commemorate WW I out of gratitude for the actions of many people. The high number of victims of WW I also remind Belgians that it is important to avoid conflicts. Belgians do not display as much pride in their ancestors who fought in the war as compared to those living in Anglo-Saxon countries. The percentage of Belgians who say that they have ancestors who fought or suffered during the First World War is no higher than that of the other nationalities. This is remarkable given that a significant portion of the front was located in Belgium. Belgians furthermore believe that WW I should be spoken of in matter-of-fact terms. They like to go on outings or trips that involve commemorations. 49% No, I prefer to avoid these kinds of places or events 30

33 3.8 French-speaking Belgians (n=202) Top 5 battlefields in Europe Top 5 WW I battlefields 1 Waterloo 88% 2 Verdun 31% 3 Normandy 22% 4 Bastogne 10% 5 Ardennes 9% 1 29% 2 Verdun 27% 3 23% 4 The Yser 22% 5 Belgium 19% Top 5 sites in Flanders Fields Location Flanders Fields 1 Don t know 62% 2 Ypres 30% 3 Diksmuide 6% 4 The Yser 3% 2% 19% Belgium Family members involved in WW I 12% Netherlands Yes 37% No 18% Don t know 46% 3% 0,5% 70% United Kingdom Don't know 31

34 Emotional significance WW I (score 1-110) 25,0% 20,0% 15,0% 10,0% Summary Among Belgians, Waterloo is the top-of-mind European battlefield. Dutch speakers often name WW I sites in Flanders, while French-speaking Belgians do so quite rarely. Verdun is a place that is often named by French speakers. Regarding World War I, Dutch-speakers make the association with Ypres the most. The Yser is also heavily associated with WW I. Among French-speaking Belgians, Verdun is what most often comes to mind, followed closely by the Yser. They more often recognise Verdun as a battlefield, though they do not always make the association with WW I. This is in contrast to the Yser, which in general does not particularly rank top-of-mind but which is still heavily associated with WW I. The Yser is a location that only scores high among Belgians. 5,0% 0,0% Belgians obviously associate Flanders Fields quite heavily with Belgium. What s striking is that nearly a fifth of French-speakers are unable to associate it with any country. For French-speakers, listing sites that are associated with Flanders Fields is not a given. The only place that is well-known is Ypres. Most Dutch speakers are able to list sites, and they also name Ypres more than any other respondent group. Passchendaele and Diksmuide also rank very high. 10% 21% Commemoration tourism? 11% Yes, but only in my own area Yes. Sometimes it even forms a component of a trip, but it s never the main focus Yes, sometimes it s even the main focus Belgians feel that it is important to commemorate the First World War, but there are other nationalities that attach more importance to this. Belgians believe it is important to commemorate WW I out of gratitude for the actions of many people. The high number of victims of WW I also remind Belgians that it is important to avoid conflicts. Belgians do not display as much pride in their ancestors who fought in the war as compared to those living in Anglo-Saxon countries. The percentage of Belgians who say that they have ancestors who fought or suffered during the First World War is no higher than that of the other nationalities. This is remarkable given that an important part of the front was located in Belgium. Belgians furthermore believe that WW I should be spoken of in matter-of-fact terms. They like to go on outings or trips that involve commemorations. 10% 49% No, that doesn t interest me 32

35 3.9 : North Rhine-Westphalia (n=199) Top 5 battlefields in Europe 1 Waterloo 26% 2 Don t know 25% 3 Normandy 15% 4 Verdun 13% 5 13% Top 5 WW I battlefields 1 26% 2 Don t know 24% 3 20% 4 Verdun 15% 5 Austria 10% Top 2 sites in Flanders Fields 1 Don t know 74% 2 Ypres 12% 14% Location Flanders Fields Family members involved in WW I 4% Belgium Yes 37% No 15% Don t know 48% 12% 4% Netherlands United Kingdom 6% 72% Don't know 33

36 20,0% 18,0% 16,0% 14,0% 12,0% 10,0% 8,0% 6,0% 4,0% 2,0% 0,0% Emotional significance WW (score 1-10) Commemoration tourism? Summary For Germans, Verdun, Waterloo and Normandy are the most important historic battlefields in Europe. Verdun is the only place that is explicitly associated with WW I. According to most respondents, Flanders Fields is located in Belgium, but there is also a high percentage that does not know where Flanders Fields is located. The following places were cited to a lesser extent: Ypres, Diksmuide and Langemarck. As with the Netherlands, Germans are less inclined than respondents in the other countries and regions to support the commemoration of WW I. They assign lower scores to the importance of commemorating the war. It is also among Germans that the largest groups can be found that do not visit places or attend events which are historically associated with war. As is generally the case, when Germans visit places of interest, this usually involves commemorative sites, museums, exhibitions and routes. Compared to the other nationalities surveyed, Germans are not as aware of whether their ancestors fought or suffered during the period. 24% 23% Yes, but only in my own area Yes. Sometimes it even forms a component of a trip, but it s never the main focus Yes, sometimes it s even the main focus 13% No, that doesn t interest me 7% 34% No, I prefer to avoid these kinds of places or events 34

37 3.11 Rest of (n=207) Top 5 battlefields in Europe 1 Weet niet 34% 2 Waterloo 18% 3 Verdun 13% 4 Stalingrad 11% 5 Teutoburger Wald 10% Top 5 WW I battlefields 1 25% 2 Don t know 22% 3 19% 4 Verdun 19% 5 Austria 8% Top 3 sites Flanders Field Location Flanders Fields 1 Don t know 75% 2 Ypres 10% 3 Bruges 4% 24% Belgium Family members involved in WW I Yes 38% No 21% Don t know 41% 5% 17% 53% Netherlands United Kingdom Don't know 5% 4% 35

38 20,0% 18,0% 16,0% 14,0% 12,0% 10,0% 8,0% 6,0% 4,0% 2,0% 0,0% Emotional significance WW I(score 1-10) Commemoration tourism? Summary For Germans, Verdun, Waterloo and Normandy are the most important historic battlefields in Europe. Verdun is the only place that is explicitly associated with WW I. According to most respondents, Flanders Fields is located in Belgium, but there is also a high percentage that does not know where Flanders Fields is located. The following places were cited to a lesser extent: Ypres, Diksmuide and Langemarck. As with the Netherlands, Germans are less inclined than respondents in other countries and regions to support the commemoration of WW I. They assign lower scores to the importance of commemorating the war. It is also among Germans that the largest groups can be found that do not visit places or attend events which are historically associated with war. As is generally the case, when Germans visit places of interest, this usually involves commemorative sites, museums, exhibitions and routes. Compared to the other nationalities surveyed, Germans are not as aware of whether their ancestors fought or suffered during the period. 21% 24% Yes, but only in my own area 12% Yes. Sometimes it even forms a component of a trip, but it s never the main focus Yes, sometimes it s even the main focus No, that doesn t interest me 5% 38% No, I prefer to avoid these kinds of places or events 36

39 3.12 : Nord-Pas de Calais and Ile de (n=345) Top 5 battlefields in Europe Top 5 WW I battlefields 1 Verdun 21% 2 Waterloo 20% 3 Normandy 8% 4 Austerlitz 5% 5 Stalingrad 4% 1 18% 2 14% 3 Verdun 13% 4 Marne 7% 5 Belgium 5% Top 5 sites in Flanders Fields Location Flanders Fields 1 Don t know 56% 2 Ypres 9% 3 Flanders 4% 4 Belgium 3% 5 Brussels 2% 6% 16% Belgium 46% Family members involved in WW I Netherlands United Kingdom Yes 51% 20% Don't know No 22% Don t know 27% 7% 4% 37

40 30,0% Emotional significance WW I (score 1-10) 25,0% 20,0% 15,0% 10,0% 5,0% 0,0% % Commemoration tourism? 14% Yes, but only in my own area 12% Yes. Sometimes it even forms a component of a trip, but it s never the main focus Yes, sometimes it s even the main focus 11% No, that doesn t interest me 49% No, I prefer to avoid these kinds of places or events 38

41 3.13 Rest of (n=628) Top 5 battlefields in Europe Top 5 WW I battlefields 1 Verdun 21% 2 Waterloo 17% 3 Normandy 8% 4 Austerlitz 7% 5 Don t know 5% 1 Verdun 16% 2 15% 3 14% 4 Marne 7% 5 Alsace 4% Top 5 sites in Flanders Fields Location Flanders Fields 1 Don t know 63% 22% 2 Ypres 7% 3 Flanders 3% 4 Cemetery 2% 5 Brussels 2% 6% 47% Belgium Netherlands Family members involved in WW I United Kingdom Don't know Yes 53% 15% No 18% Don t know 29% 7% 4% 39

42 30,0% Emotional significance WW I (score 1-10) 25,0% Summary 20,0% 15,0% 10,0% 5,0% 0,0% Commemoration tourism? Verdun, Waterloo and Normandy top the list of the most important historic battlefields for the French. Verdun, Marne and the Somme are specifically associated with WW I. A fairly high percentage of respondents place Flanders Fields in the Netherlands, while almost half think that Flanders Fields is located in Belgium. Ypres is the site most often named as being in Flanders Fields. The engagement of the French with WW I is lower than that of residents of the Commonwealth countries. Roughly half of all respondents indicate that, when they visit places which are historically associated with war, it is as a component of the trip. According to the survey, the French do not specifically limit themselves to their own area when visiting war-related locations. Slightly more than 50% of the respondents indicate that they have ancestors who suffered or fought during the war. 15% 13% Yes, but only in my own area 7% 9% Yes. Sometimes it even forms a component of a trip, but it s never the main focus Yes, sometimes it s even the main focus No, that doesn t interest me 55% No, I prefer to avoid these kinds of places or events 40

43 3.14 Netherlands (n=407) Top 5 battlefields in Europe Top 5 WW I battlefields 1 Waterloo 47% 2 Normandy 28% 3 Don t know 13% 4 Ardennes 13% 5 Arnhem 12% 1 32% 2 22% 3 Belgium 14% 4 Verdun 13% 5 Berlin 8% Top 4 sites in Flanders Fields Location Flanders Fields 1 Don t know 78% 2 Ypres 13% 3 Passchendaele 2% 4 Ghent 2% 5 Antwerp 2% 32,19% 49,88% Belgium Family members involved in WW I Netherlands United Kingdom Yes 8% No 41% Don t know 51% 15,97% 1,72% 7,37% 3,44% Don't know 41