Monument to the War Pigeon, War memorial in Sainte Catherine district, Brussels, Belgium.
The Monument to the War Pigeon is a bronze memorial in the Sainte Catherine district featuring a central figure holding a pigeon and a palm frond on a stone base. The structure incorporates military helmets supported by pigeons on its side pillars.
The memorial was erected in 1931 to honor carrier pigeons and their handlers who maintained communication during the First World War. The years 1914 and 1918 are inscribed on the monument, marking the span of the conflict.
The memorial displays inscriptions in French and Dutch, honoring Belgian pigeon breeders who sacrificed their lives. These two languages reflect the divided linguistic identity of Brussels itself.
The memorial is located at the intersection of Quai aux Barques and Rue Locquenghien, very close to the Sainte Catherine metro station. It remains accessible year-round and is easy to visit on foot.
The memorial merges the image of a palm frond with a pigeon as symbols of peace and hope amid war's destruction. This combination reflects how deeply these birds were woven into the experience of conflict.
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