De Vorte Bossen

De Vorte Bossen is a roughly 50-hectare forest complex straddling the border between the parishes of Doomkerke and Kruiskerke, in the municipality of Ruiselede, on the edge of the Flemish Sand Ridge. The site is owned by the nature conservation organisation Natuurpunt and managed locally by its branch Natuurpunt De Torenvalk. The forest is protected at European level as part of the Natura 2000 area "Forests, heaths and valley areas of Sandy Flanders: western part" (BE2500004).

What makes this forest stand out?

Few places in Flanders pack such a variety of forest types and vegetation into such a small area. Along the streams that cross the site, alluvial forests thrive, their floor carpeted in spring by wood anemones and other early bloomers. On the drier, sandy ridges above, oak and birch woodland takes over, interspersed with pine stands. This mix of wet valley forest and dry sandy heights is what gives De Vorte Bossen its reputation as an unusually diverse woodland for its size.

Which animals live here?

The forest supports a wide range of breeding birds. Visitors may spot common buzzard, great spotted and middle spotted woodpecker, short-toed treecreeper and sparrowhawk. Deeper in the woods, tawny owl, lesser spotted woodpecker, crested tit and numerous smaller songbirds also breed. Every year a fox digs its den somewhere in De Vorte Bossen, and roe deer, stone marten and weasel have all been recorded on the site. This richness of wildlife follows directly from the mosaic of habitats — wet and dry, open and dense — packed into the forest.

Can you walk through the forest?

Yes. In the northern part of the area, several paths are open to walkers, including those with dogs on a leash. These paths form part of the provincial waymarked route Parochieveldpad, the Bulskampveld walking network, and the local Bruwaanpad route. Together they let visitors experience both the damp stream valleys and the drier, sandy heights covered in oak and pine.

Where exactly is De Vorte Bossen located?

The forest lies in the municipality of Ruiselede, between the villages of Doomkerke and Kruiskerke, in the province of West Flanders. It sits on the edge of the Flemish Sand Ridge, a belt of sandy elevations running through central Flanders — which explains the coexistence of dry, sandy patches and wetter valley forest within such a compact area.

Frequently asked questions

Is the forest open to the public? Paths in the northern part of the area are open to walkers, with dogs required to be kept on a leash.

Who manages the site? Natuurpunt owns the land, with day-to-day management handled by its local branch Natuurpunt De Torenvalk.

Which walking routes cross the forest? The Parochieveldpad, the Bulskampveld network and the local Bruwaanpad route all pass through De Vorte Bossen.

Is it a protected area? Yes, it forms part of the Natura 2000 site "Forests, heaths and valley areas of Sandy Flanders: western part".