Ypres (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The 7-meter sculpture “The Hauntings” by Jo Oliver will stay at Ypres’ Menin Gate, honouring over 54,000 missing soldiers, until April 19, 2026; the city council confirms it cannot be purchased.
As VRT News reported, the large sculpture “The Hauntings” in Ypres remains a major attraction for visitors and residents. It is set beside the Menin Gate, where the names of more than 54,000 missing soldiers from WW1 are listed.
“Like so many residents and visitors of Ypres, I am convinced that there is perhaps no better place in the world than the Menin Gate where it now stands guard,”
said opposition council member Philip Bolle (Vooruit), explaining his proposal.
City officials have confirmed that the sculpture will stay in Ypres for another 6 months. The piece is still expected to return to the United Kingdom once the extension ends, giving its current display a temporary tone.
What’s next for Jo Oliver’s 7-meter Sculpture “The Hauntings” at Menin Gate, Ypres?
The Ypres city council has confirmed that buying “The Hauntings” is not possible. Officials said the sculpture is not for sale and stressed that the decision comes from the owners themselves. The creators, who are now retired, plan to keep the artwork on their own property once it returns to the United Kingdom. They explained that the piece remains part of their long-term plans and will not leave their estate.
“It would be inappropriate to ask for that,”
Alderman for Tourism Diego Desmadryl (Team Ypres) responded during the same council meeting.
The city also announced that the statue will stay in Ypres until April 19th, 2025. After that date, it will be transported back to the United Kingdom, where it will receive a permanent place. The timeline gives residents and visitors a clear final chance to view the artwork near the Menin Gate.
“The Hauntings” is a giant sculpture created by British artist Jo Oliver. She was inspired by a story she heard as a child about a soldier whose presence was said to linger in the fields of Flanders. The soldier could not always be seen, but people felt his presence in the quiet of the landscape. This memory stayed with Oliver for many years.
As an adult, she decided to bring the figure to life. She wanted to portray not a hero, but the ordinary soldier, representing common people affected by war. The statue stands 7 metres tall and is made from welded iron pieces. Its design gives it a light, almost ghostlike appearance.
