During World War I, the German army was racing through Belgium towards to the North Sea. In the Battle of the Yser which took place October 1914, the polders between the Yser and the railway line were inundated. The church spire, and post mill were destroyed during the battle, however the advance of the German army was halted and the Yser Front was created. In June 1917, the children of the village and many of the adults were evacuated to France. In 1919, a war memorial was built for the Belgian 4th Army division stationed around Wulpen.