Forests of Brabant National Park

Brabantse Wouden National Park (Forests of Brabant National Park) is one of Belgium's youngest national parks, spanning the province of Flemish Brabant near towns such as Overijse. The park was officially designated in October 2023, following a multi-year selection process run by the Flemish regional government to protect one of the largest surviving old-growth forest complexes in this part of Europe.

What forests make up the park?

The core of the park consists of three centuries-old forest complexes: Meerdaal Forest (Meerdaalwoud), Halle Forest (Hallerbos), and the renowned Sonian Forest (Zoniënwoud). Together with surrounding fields, meadows and river valleys, these woodlands cover roughly 46,000 hectares, making the park the largest natural and green area in the whole of Flemish Brabant. More than 20,000 monumental beech and oak trees grow within its boundaries, some of them several centuries old.

Which rivers run through the park?

The landscape is shaped by three meandering rivers: the Dijle, the IJse and the Laan. Their valleys, together with numerous sunken lanes and ravines known locally as holle wegen, give the park a rolling, uneven relief that sets it apart from the mostly flat terrain typical of the Flemish lowlands.

Why is the Sonian Forest so significant?

Parts of the Sonian Forest within the park have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, as part of a transnational listing covering ancient and primeval beech forests across Europe. These sections, with their tall, cathedral-like beech stands and remarkably open understorey, draw the largest number of visitors seeking tranquility close to major cities such as Brussels and Leuven.

What can visitors do in the park?

A dense network of walking and cycling trails links the three main forest complexes, offering opportunities for birdwatching, walks among centuries-old trees, and scenic rides through open fields and river valleys. The park's terrain has also hosted major sporting events, including championship-level gravel cycling races, underscoring how well developed its trail infrastructure is for cyclists.

Why does the park matter for the region?

The creation of Brabantse Wouden National Park was intended not only to protect nature but also to bring coordinated management to nature tourism in one of Belgium's most densely populated regions. National park status has given the area a unified governance structure, a shared identity, and dedicated resources for the ongoing protection of its old-growth forests, waterways and habitats.

Frequently asked questions

When was the park established? Brabantse Wouden National Park was officially designated in October 2023.

Which forests form the core of the park? The park's core consists of Meerdaal Forest, Halle Forest and the Sonian Forest.

How large is the park? The park covers approximately 46,000 hectares of forests, fields, meadows and river valleys.

Does the park include any UNESCO sites? Yes, part of the Sonian Forest is included in a transnational UNESCO World Heritage listing of ancient beech forests.

Which towns lie near the park? The park borders Overijse and is also close to Brussels and Leuven.