Lille, France
Tours Delivered,
Since Mar 2, 2015
4.0
Hours, Avg. response time
Guide #13615
Hi, my name is Claude, I was born and raised in Flanders Fields. The Great War became a passion when in 1981, Nelly and I purchased a bar and restaurant just opposite Ploegsteert Memorial to Missing. We still meet people coming from all over the world at our place. I started doing research with Ted Smith and Tony Spagnoly in the eighties, and then with many other authors and historians. I am now a specialized battlefield guide in the plains of Flanders in Belgium and the Somme area in France. Below you will find my standard tours but I can also build a custom tour, you provide the information and I'll do the rest. I like to talk about history of course but also about all what makes our daily life in France and Belgium. I am flexible, provide a high standard service, can bring a walker or a wheelchair to make your tour more comfortable. I am using digital maps and old pictures of the places you will visit. For the tours I use a Mercedes Vito Tourer fully equipped and fully insured for tour purposes. Guide license "GL70/2007.03 delivered by the "Commisariat Général au Tourisme. Transport license TLAB251 300/1. (mandatory in Europe) Official guide of the "Tourist Office of Comines-Warneton" Member of the Scientific Committee of the "Plugsreet 14-18 Interpretative Centre" Member of the "Royal British Legion" Somme Branch Member of the "Western Front Association"
Lille
Ypres
Arras

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May 2026 private tour with Claude with my family. Extremely knowledgeable, full day full of many stops (a lot of which we would not have reached were we traveling on our own) and just a pleasure to tour with. On-time, organized, fast responder to messages. Kept us on schedule but never rushed. Very well-spoken about the history, area, and monuments we were seeing....
Replied from the guide, Claude V.
August 2026Thank you very much for the nice comment, Ashley. Claude
We had booked a tour with Tours by Locals in April 2026. From the time Claude picked us up from our hotel till the time he dropped us off we were enthralled with this history of WWI and all the sites we saw. We wanted specific WWI sites as my husband wanted to see the places his Grandfather fought in WWI. Claude took us to the WWI monument ( Mont Kemmel) dedicated to...
Replied from the guide, Claude V.
May 2026Thank you very much, Dawn, for the nice comment. Claude
Visiting Vimy Ridge was an incredibly moving experience. As a Canadian, it was powerful to stand on the ground where such a defining part of our history took place. The tour was informative and respectful, offering a deep appreciation for the sacrifices made. Highly recommend to any Canadian visiting France.
Replied from the guide, Claude V.
October 2025Hi Robert, thank you for the nice review, I am glad you enjoyed the day. Claude Verhaeghe
Public review sent by email
Replied from the guide, Claude V.
September 2025Hi Janet thanks for the 5 stars.