Less than a 2-hour drive away, the Belgian Hallerbos forest is known for its beautiful bluebell flowers that bloom only once a year. The timing is tricky due to the weather and rain patterns of the varying seasons. Thankfully, the forestry department keeps documented records and videos of each flowering season in order for you to plan the best time to visit.
The season usually begins in late March with the white wood anemone flowers opening their petals to the sunshine. Other wildflowers make a spattering appearance throughout the forest soon after.
It takes several weeks for the bluebells to reach maturity, yet each day brings its own magical beauty into the forest. Some flowers have already opened up their "bells" completely like this:
Others are still in the process of peeking out like this:
The grand finale of the season is when the bluebells (at times looking more purple than blue) come out in full bloom, which lasts only about 10 days.
This season started late and due to the projected rain at the end of April, the bluebells could be in full bloom well into May. To see the most up-to-date information on the 2017 flowering season, visit the official Hallerbos website here.
The forest provides beautiful nature walks both for a leisurely stroll or an afternoon hike. Specified trails ranging from 2km to 7km can be found on the Hallerbos hiking map, and can easily be combined to create a unique trip. The Achtdrevenwandeling trail completely surrounds the most picturesque scenes of the bluebell floor.
If you are planning a visit on 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 29, 30 April or 1 May 2017, please note that the usual parking lots will be closed due to high traffic. Instead, the City of Halle will provide a free shuttle from 09.00 to 20.00, bringing you directly to the forest area. Click here for information on where to park.
Parking on normal days is free and the largest parking area is P1, which also has portable restrooms. Otherwise, use the nicer restrooms located by the picnic area at meeting point Acht Dreven.
Make sure to bring water and snacks, but please dispose of trash in the specified bins. When you visit the Hallerbos, make sure to only stay on the marked path (even when taking pictures). Venturing off the path destroys the chance for flowers to grow where people have walked. As a nature reservation, we should all strive to preserve the beauty of the forest for years to come.
The season usually begins in late March with the white wood anemone flowers opening their petals to the sunshine. Other wildflowers make a spattering appearance throughout the forest soon after.
It takes several weeks for the bluebells to reach maturity, yet each day brings its own magical beauty into the forest. Some flowers have already opened up their "bells" completely like this:
Others are still in the process of peeking out like this:
The grand finale of the season is when the bluebells (at times looking more purple than blue) come out in full bloom, which lasts only about 10 days.
This season started late and due to the projected rain at the end of April, the bluebells could be in full bloom well into May. To see the most up-to-date information on the 2017 flowering season, visit the official Hallerbos website here.
The forest provides beautiful nature walks both for a leisurely stroll or an afternoon hike. Specified trails ranging from 2km to 7km can be found on the Hallerbos hiking map, and can easily be combined to create a unique trip. The Achtdrevenwandeling trail completely surrounds the most picturesque scenes of the bluebell floor.
If you are planning a visit on 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 29, 30 April or 1 May 2017, please note that the usual parking lots will be closed due to high traffic. Instead, the City of Halle will provide a free shuttle from 09.00 to 20.00, bringing you directly to the forest area. Click here for information on where to park.
Parking on normal days is free and the largest parking area is P1, which also has portable restrooms. Otherwise, use the nicer restrooms located by the picnic area at meeting point Acht Dreven.
Make sure to bring water and snacks, but please dispose of trash in the specified bins. When you visit the Hallerbos, make sure to only stay on the marked path (even when taking pictures). Venturing off the path destroys the chance for flowers to grow where people have walked. As a nature reservation, we should all strive to preserve the beauty of the forest for years to come.
