Volkegembos

Volkegembos is a young urban forest in Oudenaarde, in the Flemish Ardennes region of Belgium, that grew up on the site of a former clay quarry. It's a striking example of how nature can reclaim an industrial landscape within just a few decades.

How did this forest come to be?

The story of Volkegembos starts in the mid-1990s, when the first two hectares were planted next to an existing spring forest (bronbosje) nearby. The real turning point came in 2001, when the city of Oudenaarde purchased nine hectares of land and the nature organization Natuurpunt acquired another eleven hectares through a European Life project. Part of the area was planted with native tree and shrub species, while the rest was left to develop on its own through spontaneous afforestation on former farmland — the forest essentially grew itself, without human planting. More plantings followed in 2003 and 2004, adding several more hectares using regional plant material.

How big is it, and where is it heading?

The long-term goal is for Volkegembos to grow into a roughly 30-hectare forest that connects, via the Riedekensbeek stream, to the neighboring Bos t'Ename, forming one larger continuous woodland. The central section of the forest, covering 11.1 hectares and separating two forest blocks, belongs to Natuurpunt. The whole area sits on a former clay extraction site, which explains the somewhat uneven terrain shaped by past quarrying.

What protection status does it have?

Volkegembos is protected at the European level as part of the Natura 2000 site covering the forests of the Flemish Ardennes and other forests of southern Flanders. It's also part of the Flemish Ecological Network, underlining its role in connecting natural habitats across the region. Management is shared between the city of Oudenaarde and the nature conservation organization Natuurpunt.

What can visitors do there?

The site is open to walkers via the marked Volkegempad walking route, about 4 kilometers long. The forest also connects to the broader "Vlaamse Ardennen Zwalmvallei" walking-node network, making it easy to combine a stroll through Volkegembos with longer routes through the surrounding countryside. It's a good pick for a quiet, low-key walk away from the crowds, with the added interest of watching a young forest mature and regenerate year by year.

Frequently asked questions

Is Volkegembos an old-growth, natural forest? No — it's a relatively young forest that has developed since the mid-1990s on the site of a former clay quarry, partly through planting and partly through natural regeneration.

How long is the walking route through the forest? The marked Volkegempad route is about 4 km long and can be combined with the wider walking-node network of the Flemish Ardennes region.

Who manages this area? The forest is jointly managed by the city of Oudenaarde and the nature conservation organization Natuurpunt.

Is the site legally protected? Yes, Volkegembos is part of the European Natura 2000 network and the Flemish Ecological Network.