Experiencing the Battle of Waterloo once more, trade markets, archeoparks, old-military parades, … “Living History” is hot in today’s heritage landscape.  Of course, this evolution raises a number of questions about the desirability, the credibility and the advantages and disadvantages of this approach.  As co-organizer of the historical re-enactment of the Battle of Oudenaarde the Ename Center for Public Archaeology and Heritage Presentation ended up in this peculiar world.

No less than 400 extras from all over Europe came to town on 11, 12 and 13 July 2008 for the commemoration of 300 years Battle of Oudenaarde.  This was the biggest historical re-enactment ever of a battle in Flanders.  During three days infantry men, cavalry men, gunners and foot-soldiers in their 18th-century historical kit coloured the town centre.  Many thousands of visitors could not only experience the battle once again, they were also introduced to the way-of-life in an army camp 300 years ago, a camp built in the centre of Oudenaarde by the re-enactors.

For most of the people who take part in such an event, this is not just another leisure activity.  It is also a way of dealing with the past in a specific manner.  For the visitors too it is an accessible confrontation with the past.  For the Ename Center for Public Archaeology and Heritage Presentation the re-enactment of the Battle of Oudenaarde was an occasion to pursue the theme of living history.  It is our intention to start a forum where professional heritage workers and re-enactors can meet each other to exchange expertise and to study in depth the problems as regards content when of dealing with the past in this way.