3 places where to see the wild hyacinth bloom in Belgium.

The Hal forest or Hallerbos is the most well-known (and touristy) place to admire the hyacinths in bloom. Located on the border between Flemish Brabant and Walloon Brabant, this 552-hectare forest is only 30 minutes by car from Brussels.

We went there one weekday evening in late April and there were not many people. Once the car parked on the roadside, we walk along the closed asphalt road (during the hyacinth blooming). A kilometer of waiting, seeing a few scattered wild hyacinths on the side of the path. And then, all of a sudden, a sweet floral fragrance fills the air and the blue carpet of wild hyacinths unfolds under the soft light of late afternoon.

We stroll along the various marked trails, amazed by the beauty of the landscape. The sun's rays create a play of light and shadow with the slender, tall trees highlighting the hyacinths. We did not follow a specific route but you can find the forest map and the various hikes on the Hallerbos website.

A victim of its own success, you may sometimes have to park far away and walk several kilometers before spotting these beautiful little blue flowers on the horizon. To avoid the crowds of visitors, we recommend going there one evening during the week or very early in the morning at sunrise (it seems the atmosphere is magical there and the luckiest will spot some curious animals).

The Soignes Forest is a peri-urban forest of nearly 5,000 hectares. With one fifth on the territory of Brussels-Capital and 270 hectares classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Soignes forest is a great playground to explore.

While wandering around Rouge-Cloître, for which you can find a hiking suggestion in our article on 5 green spaces to walk in Brussels, we discover a more intimate and secret part of the Soignes Forest. On the section between Avenue de Tervueren and Chaussée de Tervueren, we discover, at the end of a winding path, a beautiful carpet of wild hyacinths. A magical atmosphere similar to the Bois de Hal (Hallerbos) with only a few locals walking their dogs. A very accessible alternative to the Bois de Hal for Brussels residents who want to experience an enchanted escape close to home.

The Houssière Woods, located in the municipality of Braine-le-Comte in Hainaut, is a forest full of surprises and classified as a Natura 2000 Zone. During our hike in the Houssière Woods, we were able to observe rich and diverse landscapes such as a former gravel pit, a pine forest, an arboretum and the famous blue carpets of wild hyacinth flowers. Visible in several places in the Houssière Woods, these small clusters of blue bells perfume the area during our walk. A moment suspended away from the crowds of the Bois de Hal.

All the practical information can be found in our article on the Hike in the Houssière Woods. Don't hesitate to take a look!

Have you already walked around one of the places above? If so, which one? 😉
If you want more ideas to discover the blooming hyacinths in our beautiful country, the Moustique magazine offers 8 alternatives to the Bois de Hal.