4 places to see the wild hyacinth bloom in Belgium.

The Hal forest or Hallerbos is the most famous (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 walked along the closed asphalt road (during the hyacinth bloom). A kilometer of waiting, seeing here and there a few stray wild hyacinths on the side of the path. And then, suddenly, a sweet floral scent fills the air and the blue carpet of wild hyacinths unveils itself under the soft light of the 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 didn't follow a particular route, but you can find the forest map and the various walks 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 listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Soignes forest is a great playground to explore.

While wandering near Rouge-Cloître, for which you can find a hiking suggestion in our article on 5 green spaces to stroll 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 turn of a winding path, a magnificent 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 area. During our walk in the Houssière Woods, we were able to observe rich and diverse landscapes such as an old 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 bunches of blue bells perfume the area during our walk. A moment of tranquility away from the crowds of Bois de Hal.

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

Have you already been to one of the places above? If so, which one? 😉

If you want more ideas to discover the flowering hyacinths in our beautiful country, the Moustique magazine offers 8 alternatives to the Bois de Hal. You can find all our adventures and hikes in Belgium here.

Villers-la-Ville is a municipality in the Walloon Brabant region of Belgium. Famous for its Abbey, listed as an exceptional heritage site of Wallonia, it is also a playground for hikers with the 150 km of trails and paths available on its territory.

Departing from the Villers-la-Ville Abbey, we find the unmissable blooming hyacinths this April in the Hez Wood in Villers-la-Ville. They cover the undergrowth with a beautiful blue carpet. Our path then continues towards the Ry d’Hez that we follow for several minutes. This area is marshy and can be very muddy and wet after several rainy days. So if you follow this route, don't forget good shoes.

We cross the N275 to find the Hermitage wood, at this point, you can still see some wild hyacinth carpets in bloom. It is via the Abbey that this 7 km loop ends in which you can admire the wild hyacinths off the beaten track.