King Tiger in La Gleize

As part of a family trip to Belgium, I made a detour to La Gleize village just to catch a glimpse of the King Tiger tank. The tank is placed casually on the roadside in front of the museum, and it’s a somewhat grateful yet almost wasted display. There’s a simple sign that says “Do not climb,” but touching or even licking seems to be free. Since it’s an open display, I took a photo of the top of the tank with my second daughter on my shoulders. It would have been better if I had brought a step ladder. While King Tigers are rare, with around 10 surviving worldwide, and there are better-preserved ones, this laid-back exhibit allows viewing from all directions under natural light, which is fantastic. It’s located in the countryside, making it difficult accessible if you don’t have a vehicle.

Oh well, you know, it’s the coveted King Tiger. I asked my wife about ten times, “Would it be okay if I sneakily climbed on it?””Since it’s something a boy would do, maybe they’ll overlook it?” She replied, “Stop it!” and gently admonished me.

The engine top, photographed by my second daughter while I gave her a shoulder ride. Oh, it seems the cover on the right side is missing.

The way the armor of the tank, this massive chunk of iron, crumples and dents around the cannon is truly impressive. And even when it takes a beating, the King Tiger stands unfazed! It looks like there has been quite a bit of restoration or work done, but it’s still awe-inspiring.

As seen here, the King Tiger sits majestically at the street corner. Despite being exposed to the rain and with various ports seemingly unplugged, the details inside might be in a rough state.

There are many photos taken in the gallery. https://1wishyouwerehere.com/en/2016_la_gleize_kingtiger/