The Hallerbos forest, located in the Flemish city of Halle near Brussels, is once again ready to welcome visitors for its yearly Bluebell Festival. Until the start of May 2026, the forest floor will be transformed into a colourful, blue-hued carpet thanks to the millions of bluebells peeking out of the earth.
Bluebells are a species of flowers that can be spotted at a myriad of places across Europe, but Belgium’s Hallerbos has become a public favourite over the years, mainly due to a successful social media campaign. Every year, some 60,000 to 80,000 people pay a visit to the Bluebell Festival to see the natural spectacle with their own eyes.
A fragile ecosystem worth protecting
However, that popularity comes at a price. Bluebells are delicate and can easily get damaged, especially if they’re trodden on. When damaged, the leaves have more difficulty photosynthesising, which can cause the plant to die back. As the flowers take many years to establish themselves, minor damage can have a long-lasting impact. Visitors are thus asked to look after the bluebells and to protect the yearly phenomenon by sticking to the official pathways.
On 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26 April and 1 May 2026, 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, 11 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
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 Parking 2 or Parking 1a (Hogebermweg), this 5.3 km trail is marked with blue poles and leads visitors past the forest’s impressive giant Sequoia trees.
Roebuck walk: Starting at Parking 5 (Kapittel 10, 1500 Halle), this adventurous 7 km trail is marked with yellow posts and takes hikers through three of the four valleys in the Hallerbos.
Bluebell Walks: Two marked routes are available from 4 April 2026. One departs from Parking 1a (Hogebermweg) and is 4.8 km long, while the other starts from the Achtdreven and is 5.1 km long. Additionally, from Parking 1b (Houtveld), a 1.6 km walk is marked to the Achtdreven.
Other locations to spot bluebells across Flanders
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)
In order to avoid the crowds, especially when visiting by car, visitors are advised to attend the 2026 Bluebell Festival on weekdays.
The Hallerbos has been designated as a nature reserve since 2021, highlighting its ecological importance. The Bluebell Festival is not just a scenic highlight; it also underscores the significance of conservation and responsible tourism. When visiting, one should thus behave accordingly.
