The annual Hyacinth Festival in Halle commenced on Saturday morning.
Although the world-famous purple flower carpet was not yet in full bloom, visitors flocked from near and far to catch a glimpse. This year, for the first time, a shuttle service was introduced for pregnant women, the elderly, and those with limited mobility. Additionally, a shorter cycling route of 19 kilometres, passing by the delicate flowers, was unveiled.
Since 2015, the flower carpet has drawn tens of thousands of tourists to Hallerbos each spring. To manage the influx of visitors, the City of Halle has organised a comprehensive festival in partnership with the Agency for Nature and Forests since 2017. Park ranger Tom Boonen emphasised the importance of nature conservation, stating, “We have stretched 25 kilometres of rope along the paths to prevent the trampling of hyacinths. If they are damaged, it can take years for them to recover.”
During the festival, De Lijn offers free shuttle buses from the station and the city centre. Visitors can also borrow bicycles at no cost to avoid traffic congestion. A fully electric bus will run between the city centre and Hallerbos for the first time this year.
Councillor Mark Demesmaeker said, “Together with De Lijn, we provide free transportation between the Stationsplein, Welkomstlaan, Slingerweg, and the Forest Museum.” The shuttles operate on weekends from 12 April to 27 April, and on 1 May, from 9:00 to 19:00.
To ensure people with visual impairments can also enjoy the hyacinths, Maurice Sleuwaegen of the non-profit organisation Goed Gezien developed a series of tactile maps. These maps, depicting trees and hyacinths in relief, are distributed along the adapted cycling and walking routes.
