Hallerbos in Belgium - Aunt Anna in the Blue Forest

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Guest writer: Anna Nilsson Spets

Soon, very soon, the lemming train to the Blue Forest will start, although here in Belgium we have no lemmings. 

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The Blue Forest or Hallerbos is a well-known natural area located about 40 minutes south-west of Brussels by car.

Around mid-April, the ground in the deciduous forest is covered in a blue carpet, with the beautiful English bell hyacinths (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) turning the whole ground sky blue. 

Hallerbos has several hiking trails of varying lengths, the longest being 8 kilometres, and a special trail for horse riders. During the flowering season, stay on the trail, it is strictly forbidden to trample around among all the beauty.

Spring in the Blue Forest actually begins in white: white pansies, wild daffodils and wild garlic. An occasional yellow tuft of swallowwort stands out.

The delicate green of the beech leaves gives a special shimmer, it is nature's own magic. The birds are droning and the first bumblebees of the year have woken up. It smells of the forest's own perfume. 

There are picnic tables along the trails, so it's a great idea to bring a picnic basket. 

Blue bell hyacinth is a bulbous plant that spreads easily through its side bulbs. 

It is an old cultivated plant from which paste was extracted and the bulbs pressed. 

In the area around Hallerbos, these plants used to be called blue socks or boogers. The nickname booger comes from the slimy part of the stem.

During high season it is (unfortunately) very crowded, so it might be a good idea to get there early to avoid queuing for parking. You can also get there by train and/or bus.

Eating and sleeping can be done in neighbouring communities.

For updates on when the bell hyacinths are flowering, take a look: Hallerbos.be

Nature here is a miracle, a miracle in blue !

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Anna Nilsson Spets

60+ year old lady with a lifelong love for Africa. Emigrated to Flanders in Belgium and works with plants on a daily basis. Writes, takes photos and tries to inspire others to budget travel on their own. Blogs on "Anna's mix" about travelling, work, plants, writing and much more.

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