Waterloo re-enactors pay tribute to Belgian-Dutch battalion
For fans of historical re-enactments, 2015 has been Belgium’s vintage year.
Enthusiasts of a hobby called “Living History” have donned period costumes to act out iconic battles in Flanders for the World War I centenary, as well as major clashes between German and Allied Forces for the 70th anniversary of World War II. Now comes another big commemoration: The bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo, which spelled the downfall of Napoleon.
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- In this May 9, 2015, photo, a replica uniform and cap of the Belgian-Dutch 7th Battalion of the Line are laid out on a straw mattress inside a tent at a Napoleonic era living history camp in Elewijt, Belgium. The Belgian-Dutch living history group is coordinating their group for participation in the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo which will take place in June 2015. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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- In this May 10, 2015, photo, historical re-enactors dressed as soldiers of the Belgian-Dutch 7th Battalion of the Line are commanded by a cavalry officer as they march in formation at a Napoleonic era living history camp in Elewijt, Belgium. The Belgian-Dutch living history group is coordinating their group for participation in the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo which will take place in June 2015. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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- In this May 10, 2015, photo, historical re-enactors dressed as soldiers of the Belgian-Dutch 7th Battalion of the Line face off against each other in a mock battle at a Napoleonic era living history camp in Elewijt, Belgium. The Belgian-Dutch living history group is coordinating their group for participation in the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo which will take place in June 2015. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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- In this May 10, 2015, photo, historical re-enactors dressed as soldiers of the Belgian-Dutch 7th Battalion of the Line prepare to face off against each other in a mock battle at a Napoleonic era living history camp in Elewijt, Belgium. The Belgian-Dutch living history group is coordinating their group for participation in the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo which will take place in June 2015. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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- In this May 10, 2015, photo, historical re-enactors dressed as soldiers of the Belgian-Dutch 7th Battalion of the Line face off against each other in a mock battle at a Napoleonic era living history camp in Elewijt, Belgium. The Belgian-Dutch living history group is coordinating their group for participation in the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo which will take place in June 2015. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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- In this May 10, 2015, photo, historical re-enactors dressed as soldiers of the Belgian-Dutch 7th Battalion of the Line face off against each other in a mock battle at a Napoleonic era living history camp in Elewijt, Belgium. The Belgian-Dutch living history group is coordinating their group for participation in the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo which will take place in June 2015. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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- In this May 10, 2015, photo, historical re-enactors dressed as soldiers of the Belgian-Dutch 7th Battalion of the Line face off against each other in a mock battle at a Napoleonic era living history camp in Elewijt, Belgium. The Belgian-Dutch living history group is coordinating their group for participation in the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo which will take place in June 2015. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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- In this May 10, 2015, photo, historical re-enactors dressed as soldiers of the Belgian-Dutch 7th Battalion of the Line fire their weapons during a drill at a Napoleonic era living history camp in Elewijt, Belgium. The Belgian-Dutch living history group is coordinating their group for participation in the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo which will take place in June 2015. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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- In this May 10, 2015, photo, historical re-enactors dressed as soldiers of the Belgian-Dutch 7th Battalion of the Line fire their weapons during a drill at a Napoleonic era living history camp in Elewijt, Belgium. The Belgian-Dutch living history group is coordinating their group for participation in the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo which will take place in June 2015. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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- In this May 10, 2015, photo, the youngest member of a re-enactor group of the Belgian-Dutch 7th Battalion of the Line, Luca Scalzotto, 19, fires his weapon during a drill at a Napoleonic era living history camp in Elewijt, Belgium. The Belgian-Dutch living history group is coordinating their group for participation in the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo which will take place in June 2015. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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- In this June 20, 2010, file photo, re-enactors march through a field during a living history event of the 1815 Battle of Waterloo in Waterloo, Belgium. More than 5,000 Napoleonic era re-enactors will participate in the upcoming 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo which takes place in June 2015. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)
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- In this June 20, 2010 file photo, re-enactors participate in a mock battle in front of the Lion’s Mound during a living history event of the 1815 Battle of Waterloo in Waterloo, Belgium. More than 5,000 Napoleonic era re-enactors will participate in the upcoming 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo which takes place in June 2015. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)
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- In this May 10, 2015, photo, historical re-enactors dressed as soldiers of the Belgian-Dutch 7th Battalion of the Line march in formation at a Napoleonic era living history camp in Elewijt, Belgium. The Belgian-Dutch living history group is coordinating their group for participation in the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo which will take place in June 2015. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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- In this May 9, 2015, photo, an historical re-enactor dressed as a soldier of the Belgian-Dutch 7th Battalion of the Line plays the flute at a Napoleonic era living history camp in Elewijt, Belgium. The Belgian-Dutch living history group is coordinating their group for participation in the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo which will take place in June 2015. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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- In this May 10, 2015, photo, historical re-enactors dressed as soldiers of the Belgian-Dutch 7th Battalion of the Line line up for inspection next to their tents at a Napoleonic era living history camp in Elewijt, Belgium. The Belgian-Dutch living history group is coordinating their group for participation in the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo which will take place in June 2015. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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- In this May 10, 2015, photo, historical re-enactors dressed as soldiers of the Belgian-Dutch 7th Battalion of the Line listen to instruction at a Napoleonic era living history camp in Elewijt, Belgium. As preparation for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo which will take place in June 2015 members of the group are practicing their battlefield tactics and learning various historical aspects of the battle. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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- In this May 9, 2015, photo, historical re-enactors dressed as soldiers of the Belgian-Dutch 7th Battalion of the Line listen to instruction near their tents at a Napoleonic era living history camp in Elewijt, Belgium. As preparation for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo which will take place in June 2015 members of the group will practice their battlefield tactics as well as learn various historical aspects of the battle.(AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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- In this May 9, 2015, photo, an historical re-enactor dressed as a Lieutenant of the Belgian-Dutch 7th Battalion of the Line gives instruction on how to recognize officer insignia at a Napoleonic era living history camp in Elewijt, Belgium. As preparation for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo which will take place in June 2015 members of the group will practice their battlefield tactics as well as learn various historical aspects of the battle. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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- In this May 9, 2015, photo, two women, dressed in Napoleonic era dress, cook a lunchtime soup for re-enactors of the 7th Battalion of the Line at a Napoleonic era living history camp in Elewijt, Belgium. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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- In this May 9, 2015, photo, an historical re-enactor, dressed as a soldier of the Belgian-Dutch 7th Battalion of the Line, listens to instruction at a Napoleonic era living history camp in Elewijt, Belgium. Members of the Battle of Waterloo living history group spend more than 1500 euros each on replica uniforms, ordering their cloth from a source in the United Kingdom and hiring local seamstresses to follow a period pattern. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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- In this May 9, 2015, photo, historical re-enactors, dressed as soldiers of the Belgian-Dutch 7th Battalion of the Line, listen to instruction at a Napoleonic era living history camp in Elewijt, Belgium. Members of the Battle of Waterloo living history group spend more than 1500 euros each on replica uniforms, ordering their cloth from a source in the United Kingdom and hiring local seamstresses to follow a period pattern. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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- In this May 10, 2015, photo, historical re-enactors dressed as soldiers of the Belgian-Dutch 7th Battalion of the Line listen to instruction at a Napoleonic era living history camp in Elewijt, Belgium. As preparation for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo which will take place in June 2015 members of the group will practice their battlefield tactics as well as learn various historical aspects of the battle. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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- In this May 10, 2015, photo, historical re-enactors dressed as soldiers of the Belgian-Dutch 7th Battalion of the Line march in formation at a Napoleonic era living history camp in Elewijt, Belgium. The Belgian-Dutch living history group is coordinating their group for participation in the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo which will take place in June 2015. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
A Belgian-Dutch group is acting out the lives of soldiers of the Belgian 7th Battalion of the Line that fought with the British in the battle that took place June 18, 1815. While most people’s attention will be focused on British and French troops, this small contingent of the 7th Battalion of the Line is determined to show the general public that the Belgians and Dutch, as a unified group, also played their part in defeating Napoleon.
The battlefield at Waterloo is under renovation so the group has been practicing 35 kilometers (22 miles) away on grassy terrain in Elewijt, just north of Brussels. The day begins with a breakfast cooked over the open fire, scrambled eggs, bread and sausage meat. The troops then prepare for a tent and weapons inspection.
After inspection, the group spends the rest of the day performing drills — from marching in formation and to firing weapons in mock battle.
The group is a mix of young and old, from all walks of life. The youngest member is Luca Scalzotto, 19, who joined after following his girlfriend to a meeting of the group. The oldest is Roger de Smet, in his late 60s, who is part of the group’s Cavalry Regiment and has been re-enacting the era since 1979.
“It’s been a passion of mine since I was 12 years old,” said de Smet.
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