In the Hallerbos to the south of Brussels, the first hyacinths – also known as bluebells – are starting to bloom. By the end of next week, visitors can expect to see the flower carpet which has made the forest a tourist hotspot.
Some 20km to the south of Belgium's capital lies Hallerbos, which has become famous across the country and further afield for the purplish blue flowers that flourish on its wooded slopes in April every year. This phenomenon has led to the location being dubbed the 'Blue Forest' and the nature reserve being mobbed for several weeks when the little flowers appear en masse.
Halle, the city located next to the Hallerbos, organises a Hyacinth Festival every year in the brief period when the flowers appear, which depends on the warmth of the soil, the presence of the sun and the amount of rain that falls around their blooming period.
Credit: Belga/ Nicolas Maeterlinck
This year's florescence does not start until Saturday 13 April, but the first woodland hyacinths are already blossoming. "A blue carpet of flowers is not there yet," the Hallerbos website read last week. "But on the plateaus, which are warmed by the sun all day, flowering hyacinths can already be found."
However, the flowering stems have yet to stretch and therefore they are still somewhat hidden between the leaves. But every week is a different experience in the forest, and by the end of next week, the first stretches of blue carpets will likely be visible, especially in the sunniest parts of the forest – right on schedule.
Several other spring flowering plants are already blooming, including the cuckoo flower or mayflower and white sorrel, while leaves are sprouting on shrubs and low trees such as hazels, blackthorns and sycamores. However, the time to admire wild daffodils ended earlier than in previous years due to the heavy rainfall.
Crowd control
While the city of Halle is proud of the wood's natural beauty, the large swathes of tourists who flock there every year to admire these little flowers do pose a risk to the wildlife and vegetation growth.
In the past, the narrow country lanes leading to the woods quickly became blocked with cars and many people posed for pictures in the middle of a sea of blue, killing off the delicate flowers. The city now manages the crowds by spanning rope between the paths and the greenery to keep visitors on the designated paths. Dozens of stewards are always present on-site to keep people away from the plants.
Thousands of people trek to Halle every year to see the blue carpets. Credit: Belga/ Nicolas Maeterlinck
The use of drones is also not allowed in the forest to ensure peace and quiet. From 13 April, the city will run free shuttle buses between Halle station and the forest for three weekends between 09:00 and 20:00, with the last buses running on Wednesday 1 May, which is a bank holiday in Belgium. New this year is the special shuttle bus for people with disabilities, ensuring that everyone can hitch a ride.
Those who want to see the magical blue carpets while avoiding big crowds can also visit Brakelbos, Muziekbos in Ronse and Bos Ter Rijst in Maarkedal to see the wood hyacinths in bloom.
The authorities also warned visitors that, due to the construction of the new ecoduct, the parking facilities at Hallerbos are limited. "If you want to admire the flowers carefree, it is best to come on foot or by bike."
