Hallerbos, the Purple-White Primeval Forest or The Blue Forest

A 6 km walk that will amaze you from mid-April... Not only do nature lovers from all corners of Belgium flock to this beautiful natural spectacle, but it is also known worldwide as 'The Blue Forest'. Although 'Purple Forest' would have been more applicable thanks to the millions of wild hyacinths that form a purple carpet. We seek out the quiet places in this flower-rich Hallerbos in Halle.

Marked hiking trails on the website of Hallerbos or ANB

One of my favorite spots nearby is this beautiful piece of forest of 552 ha near the city of Halle, southwest of Brussels. A city that owes its name to the Germanic 'halha', which means 'bend in the upland' and is also the southernmost city in the Dutch-speaking area of Belgium and the Netherlands.

A city that is linked to the police series Witse and where one of the larger carnivals in Belgium takes place annually around Lent. In September there is a biennial international giant parade - 'Kermestalle', but it mainly attracts many (international) visitors due to the annual hyacinth bloom in the Hallerbos, aka 'The Blue Forest' - although these forest hyacinths are purple...

Not in its city center like the other festivities, but in the Hallerbos a few kilometers southeast of the city of Halle. A beautiful forest mainly located in Flemish Brabant, but also a piece in Walloon Brabant that is accessible by both public transport and a walk from the center with a few more kilometers.

With our little ones still a bit too far to start on foot from the city center, we depart from parking lot 5 near restaurant 't Kriekske (optionally, you can start this walk from parking lot 4 - Hallerbosstraat or parking lot 8 - Vlasmarktdreef).

The cobblestone road Kapitel brings us to the entrance of this forest, mostly consisting of broadleaf trees (70%) and coniferous trees (30%). Not just any forest, but one of the last remnants of the vast Coal Forest that has gradually fragmented since the arrival of the Romans.

With the oldest mentions dating back to 686, you can assume that this forest has a rich history. Notably, the boundary markers placed in 1779 are still present, due to unpaid debts by King Philip IV of Spain. He gave the Hallerbos and the city of Halle (owned by Saint Waltrudis = SW) as collateral to the House of Arenberg = AR. After a dispute, the non-fulfillment of his debts, and the Revolution, the Arenbergs eventually became the full owners of this area. Thanks to these dukes of Arenberg, who stimulated forest management on their parcels, we can enjoy the Green Belt around Brussels many years later.

From mid-April, you can enjoy millions of forest hyacinths and wood anemones that create a purple-white carpet as far as the eye can see. Today, we explore the Kapittelbeekvallei via the narrowest paths through this fairytale forest, which consists of five valleys with springs and babbling brooks of clear water.

A special habitat for fauna and flora, where the wild hyacinth and wood anemone play the leading roles. Since 2021, it has had the status of a Flemish nature reserve, but was already part of the European Natura 2000 'Hallerbos and nearby forest complexes with spring areas and heath'. A noteworthy area that you must see for yourself, as it is difficult to capture in photographs, especially so early in the season.

A downside is that it can be busy on sunny weekend days during the hyacinth bloom, but when you stray from the marked hiking routes, you can enjoy the peace and beauty that this Purple-White Primeval Forest can offer. Always stay on the designated paths so that we can continue to see this flower phenomenon appear in the Zenne Valley for many years to come.