Scheutbos

The Scheutbos is a park and woodland area located in the Belgian municipality of Sint-Jans-Molenbeek near the Louis Mettewielaan. The park covers 50 hectares and is managed by Leefmilieu Brussel. 44 hectares of the area consists of a classified site, while the remaining 6 hectares form a regional park. In the eighth century, the Scheutbos area was a coal forest. 400 years later, it was almost completely cleared and became agricultural land. In the Middle Ages, an important battle took place: the Count of Flanders defeated the Brussels troops there in 1356. Maps from 1775 show the area as a wooded region where two streams, the Molenbeek and the Leibeek, traverse the moist meadows and slopes. However, from the 19th century, urbanization began, which didn't end until 1990. If the municipality of Molenbeek had not granted this area on leasehold to Leefmilieu Brussel, the Scheutbos would likely have completely disappeared.

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