Renaat Landuyt, former Minister for Tourism and Employment in Flanders and Vice-President of the Flemish government, has been an enthusiastic advocate of the projects from the start and in 2001 generously secured the allocation of €5.5m from the Parliament to construct a 128-bed Peace Village in Messines in support of all the other projects.

In 2003, Gert Burgoise replaced Renaat Landuyt and immediately secured a further €1.5m needed to construct the design selected by Tourism Flanders. Construction began in 2005 and was officially opened on June 7th 2006. The opening Ceremony was conducted by Gert Burgoise, Flemish Minister for Tourism, Employment and Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern T.D., Irish Foreign Affairs Minister, and David Hanson MP, Minister of State in the Northern Ireland Government. Glen Barr OBE and Sandy Evrard, Burgomeister Stad Mesen, also officiated at the event.

The facilities will be available to people of all ages and all nationalities who can use it as a base for historical and educational visits, or to relax and to soak up the tranquil culture of Mesen/Messines and the beautiful countryside.

www.peacevillage.be