Gentbos

Gentbos is a provincial woodland in Merelbeke, East Flanders, and a popular pick for a nature walk close to Ghent. The domain covers 28 hectares, straddling Merelbeke itself and the neighboring village of Bottelare, both part of the wider Merelbeke-Melle municipality.

Where does the site's history begin?

The land that makes up Gentbos once formed part of the castle park belonging to Merelbeke Castle, owned by the noble Stas de Richelle family. In 1990, the East Flanders provincial government purchased the 28-hectare domain. Since then, the province has worked together with the municipality of Merelbeke on a forest management plan, dividing responsibilities between the two authorities with the shared goal of keeping the woodland as natural as possible.

What kind of forest is it?

By nature, Gentbos is a wetland forest — its lower-lying sections retain moisture, creating marshy habitats. Despite its modest size, the landscape is surprisingly varied, combining boggy patches with stands of stately beeches and oaks and more open clearings. It's considered ecologically rich for a forest of its scale.

What plants and wildlife live here?

In spring, the forest floor comes alive with musk stork's-bill, wood anemone, wood sorrel, and slender cowslip. Gentbos is also known as a rewarding spot for mushrooms, and it shelters bats and squirrels. Birdwatchers have recorded more than fifty bird species in the forest, including the lesser spotted woodpecker.

What can visitors see on site?

One of the forest's defining features is the castle pond (kasteelvijver), a remnant of the former castle park that still recalls the estate's noble past. Near the main entrance, an 111-meter wooden boardwalk crosses the wettest ground, and additional wooden paths run through the rest of the domain, making it possible for wheelchair users and prams to cross muddy stretches that would otherwise be difficult to navigate.

How do you get to Gentbos, and when is it open?

The domain has four official entrances, with the main one located at Poelstraat 184-188 in Merelbeke. The forest is open every day, from sunrise to sunset, so visiting hours shift naturally with the season.

Does Gentbos hold any recognition?

The forest carries the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) mark, an international label awarded to woodlands managed according to good, sustainable forestry practices. It reflects the joint effort by the province and the municipality to manage the site responsibly.

Frequently asked questions

Is Gentbos suitable for visitors with children or wheelchairs? Yes — wooden boardwalks and paths cross the marshy parts of the domain, making it accessible for wheelchair users and prams as well as families.

How large is Gentbos and where exactly is it located? The domain covers 28 hectares across Merelbeke and Bottelare, within the Merelbeke-Melle municipality, not far from Ghent.

What wildlife can be spotted in Gentbos? The forest hosts more than fifty bird species, including the lesser spotted woodpecker, along with bats and squirrels.

What is the history behind the site? The land was once part of the castle park owned by the Stas de Richelle family before the province of East Flanders bought it in 1990.

What are Gentbos's opening hours? The forest is open daily from sunrise to sunset.