Laarbeek Forest and the Marshes of Ganshoren – Jette

In the mood for a nice walk near Brussels Expo, on the edge of our capital? Traverse the swamps of Ganshoren - Jette, explore the Boudewijnpark and finish off with some adjacent forests including he Laarbeekbos - a beautiful green spot with playgrounds next to the UZ of Jette.

Kerremanspark, a refuge for the grass snake: 0km - 1km

A while back, we took a hiking trip from Zellik to Laken and its royal parks. We came across some nice playgrounds and challenging paths, so it was high time to explore this fun area with the kids.

We start again from the quiet parking lot in the Researchpark Z1, located in the Flemish Brabant Zellik, instead of the busier parking at the new cemetery of Ganshoren in the Brussels territory (LEZ).

Right next to this parking lot in this industrial area of Zellik is Kerremanspark or a refuge for the grass snake, which has been here since 2018. The grass snake is one of the 3 native snakes that has found its habitat here again, thanks to the rich supply of mice, frogs, and small fish.

Swamp of Ganshoren: 1km - 2km

Through a boardwalk and some nice narrow paths, we arrive at the Swamp of Ganshoren after crossing Bosstraat. Meanwhile, on Brussels soil, a next fun path takes us through this 11 ha large swamp area to a little bridge under the railway line 60.

A railway line that has been tearing this swamp apart since 1989 with the adjacent Swamp of Jette.

Recently, these were reconnected via some tunnels and the drainage of this area was rendered ineffective. As a result, this trip can quickly turn into a real adventure journey through particularly large puddles of about ten centimeters deep that are also difficult to avoid.

King Boudewijnpark and the Swamps of Jette: 2km - 4km

Once we have passed under the railway line, we arrive next to the inaccessible Swamp of Jette or the Moeraske. This only preserved swamp of the Brussels Zenne Valley was characteristic of this region and naturally offers beautiful biodiversity. By removing the drainage in the Swamp of Ganshoren, they are trying to reverse the tide towards a swampy area like this Swamp of Jette.

When crossing the busy N290 - Exhibition Avenue via a car-free bridge, we enter the King Boudewijnpark - Phase 2. This park with picnic areas offers a nice playground, where in the summer months you can find the summer bar 'Guinguette Fabiola'.

After a little snack with delicious birthday cakes and some fun on the first playground of the day, we continue our journey. We choose a nice detour with a challenging path through the Molenbeek, to cross the N290 again to the other side of the Swamp of Jette, adjacent to the Poelbeekbos.

Laarbeekbos, old limestone quarry: 4km - 7km

We follow the edge of this Poelbeekbos to enter the Laarbeekbos via the back of the Kids' Farm of Jette. This Laarbeekbos is, like the Poelbeekbos and the Dielegembos, connected to the Abbey of Dielegem. A Premonstratensian abbey that started a limestone quarry here since the 11th century, for the production of stones for building the abbey, but also for the Onze-Lieve-Vrouw church in Mechelen and a part of the Saint Michael's Cathedral in Brussels.

This quarry was closed in the 15th century due to hitting the groundwater layer, causing the quarry to constantly deal with flooding. The old quarry domains received a new productive destination through the planting of a forest. This forest had around 1600 an area of about 5ha and has since grown into this Natura2000 protected area - Forests and wetlands of the Molenbeek valley in the northwest of the Brussels Region - covering 116ha.

We explore this beautiful forest starting with a climb towards the community gardens of Jette, then taking some nice undulating paths with bridges and steps through the supply area of this Laarbeekbos.

Playground and the Chalet of the Laarbeekbos: 7km - 8km

For our children, it's a solid 7km which is starting to weigh on some little hikers in our group. The golden rule I try to apply is: the age of the child (in years) = the maximum number of kilometers for a walk...

For some -8 year old, it’s quite a challenge where throughout the trip no child asked to stop - perhaps a little bit with the climb to the community gardens. As icing on the cake and the second golden rule that I apply is a reward at the end of the walk. This time in the form of a fun playground with high slides, monkey bridges, and an artificial climbing rock, near the Chalet - a restaurant that has its origins since 1908, thanks to a lawyer from Elsene who had a Normandy-style pavilion built there.

After pausing long enough and regaining some energy in the form of fruit and drinks, we take the shortest route alongside the Molenbeek, back to the parking lot at the industrial area of Zelli. A nice day out on a drier day during the Christmas holidays, with 2 nice playgrounds and challenging paths that kept the children sufficiently entertained.