Be enchanted by the purple spectacle
A walk through Hallerbos is a must at any time of the year, but between the middle of April and the start of May, it's even more special: this is when the bluebells come into flower. These spring flowers create a stunning purple carpet as far as the eye can see. While the bluebells are in bloom, free shuttle buses run between Halle station and Hallerbos over a number of weekends.
Make sure to combine the Bluebell Festival with a visit to our city!
Free shuttle bus (12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 April & 1 May)
- Bus stop: Stationsplein, Parking Welkomstlaan, Parking 2 (Forest museum / Hallerbos) & Slingerweg (centre Halle).
- Hours: between 9am and 7pm (SAT every half hour; SUN & HOLIDAY every 20 minutes)
- More info:route planner De Lijn.
Free comfort bus (12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 April & 1 May)
- Bus stop: Parking 2 (Forest museum / Hallerbos) & Crossroad Achtdreven (centre Hallerbos)
- Hours: between 9am and 7pm
- Users: only for 65+, pregnant women and other less mobile users
- Attention! Not suitable for wheelchair users
Free bike rental (12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 April & 1 May)
- Location: pop-up rental point under shelter SNCB station
- Hours: between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- Free while stocks last
Cycle route 'Korte Hallerbosroute'
- Route: you can find it here
- Distance: 18.7 km
- Drive-in: Everyone is cordially invited, along with some local cycling clubs, to explore this route for the first time on Saturday 12 April. Departure precisely at 10am at the Station Square.
Parking spaces for the disabled
Do you have a parking permit for people with disabilities? During the Hyacinth Festival, you can park in Parking 4 (Dries). Please note: during the festival, this parking lot is exclusively reserved for visitors with disabilities.
From this parking lot, you can start the accessible "Plateau Walk." This route, marked with black-and-white posts, is ideal for visitors with limited mobility. The path leads to the heart of the forest and features adapted paving, ample rest areas, and a nearly flat route.
Did you know that...
- bluebells take at least five years to bloom for the first time?
- these unique purple flowers are popularly referred to as snottebellen (boogers), as their stems often produce a snot-like mucus?
- their bulbs were used as a source of glue and starch in the Middle Ages?
- wild bluebells are often confused with Spanish bluebells, which are planted in gardens and parks? Spanish bluebells have larger flowers, blue anthers and broader leaves (2 to 4 cm). Wild bluebells have beige anthers and narrower leaves up to 1.6 cm wide. Wild-Spanish bluebell hybrids are able to reproduce by themselves, which is why it's a major problem when Spanish bluebells make their way into woodland with wild bluebells. Over the long term, only the hybrid would survive. You can help prevent this issue by not planting Spanish bluebells in your garden. That way, there's no chance of them making their way into the wild.
You do not need an admission ticket to attend this event.
From mid-April to early May.
