April has begun, and that means the Hallerbos — a forest located in the Belgian city of Halle, near Brussels — is preparing for the annual Bluebell Festival. From mid-April, the forest floor will be blanketed by millions of bluebells, transforming the Hallerbos into a vivid and colourful spectacle.
While bluebells can be found throughout Europe, the Hallerbos has become famous over the years for its thick violet-blue flowerbed, partly because of pictures circulating on social media. Each year, thousands of tourists thus travel to the Belgian forest to marvel at the natural phenomenon with their own eyes.
A fragile ecosystem worth protecting
However, bluebells are delicate and easily damaged. Stepping on the plants is prohibited, as doing so can cause them to die back. Since they take many years to establish, even minor damage can have a lasting impact on the forest’s appearance. For this reason, picking the flowers is also not permitted. Sticking to the official paths is mandatory to preserve the forest’s unique ecosystem for future generations.
In order to successfully manage those crowds, the city of Halle and the Flemish Agency for Nature and Forests have gathered their forces. While the Hallerbos can be reached by car they are urging visitors to come on foot, by bike or by public transport as to limit traffic around the forest.
On 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 April and 1 May, a free shuttle bus will operate between Halle’s train station and Parking 2 at the Hallerbos. It will run every half hour from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm on Saturdays, and every 20 minutes on Sundays and on 1 May. Bicycle rental is available at Halle’s train station from Saturday 12 April to Thursday 1 May, from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm on weekdays, and from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on weekends and public holidays. During weekends and public holidays, the bicycles are free to use while supplies last.
Walks for Visitors
The Hallerbos offers several marked walking trails that allow visitors to fully experience the beauty of the forest:
Plateau Walk: Starting at Parking 4 (Dries 3 – 1500 Halle), this 4 km trail is designed for visitors with limited mobility and is marked with white and black poles. The path is suitable for wheelchairs and features regular benches and picnic tables.
Sequoia Walk: Beginning at the car park between the bridge over the R0 and the “Achtdreven,” this 4 km trail is marked with blue poles and leads visitors past the forest’s impressive giant Sequoia trees.
Roebuck Walk: Starting at the hunting lodge, this adventurous 7 km trail is marked with yellow posts and takes hikers through three of the four valleys in the Hallerbos.
During the Bluebell Festival, additional temporary walks are marked to showcase the bluebells:
Bluebell Walks: Two marked routes are available from 13 April. One departs from Parking 1 (Hogebermweg) and is 4.8 km long, while the other starts from the Achtdreven and is 5.1 km. Additionally, from Parking 11 (Houtveld), a 1.6 km walk is marked to the Achtdreven.
Alternative locations to spot bluebells
The Flemish Agency for Nature and Forests also encourages people to go and look for bluebells at other locations throughout Flanders, often less-crowded but not necessarily less beautiful. 12 locations in particular are worth a visit.
- Helleketelbos (Poperinge)
- Rodeberg / Hellegatbos (Westouter)
- Kemmelberg (Kemmel)
- Koppenbergbos (Oudenaarde / Maarkedal)
- Kluisbos (Kluisbergen)
- Hotond-Scherpenberg (Ronse)
- Muziekbos (Ronse)
- Bos Ter Rijst (Maarkedal)
- Brakelbos (Brakel)
- Bosberg / Raspaillebos (Geraardsbergen)
- Neigembos (Ninove)
- Kravaalbos (Meldert)
To fully enjoy the beauty of the bluebells, plan your visit on weekdays or during early hours to avoid crowds. Respect the rules in place to protect this fragile natural treasure. In 2021, the Hallerbos was designated as a nature reserve, highlighting its ecological importance. The Bluebell Festival is not just a scenic highlight—it also underscores the significance of conservation and responsible tourism.
