The first weekend of the hyacinth festival in Halle Wood in Halle (Flemish Brabant) went off without a hitch. Like every year, the purple carpets of flowers attracted numerous visitors, photographers and nature lovers. The event is now also well-known outside Belgium. Buses full of foreign and domestic tourists arrive at the forest with people eager to marvel at the beauty of this Flemish wood. ‘It really is a spectacle for everyone,’ forest ranger Thomas Boonen says. According to the local forest rangers, it was busy but the situation was manageable.
On Saturday, the changeable weather meant it remained relatively quiet, but on Sunday it was clearly busier. “By the afternoon, the car parks were full, which gives a good indication of how busy it was,” says forest ranger Thomas Boonen. “Everything went smoothly, with no incidents worth mentioning. We’re satisfied.”
The hyacinth festival appeals to very diverse groups of people. Families with picnic baskets, nature lovers, photographers and even horsemen and women come to enjoy spring in Hallebos. “That’s what makes this festival so wonderful,” explains Boonen. “Lots of people come here together to discover our natural surroundings.”
"Respect the footpaths!"
Forest rangers continue to stress the importance of respecting nature. Visitors must stay on the marked paths to protect the hyacinths. “Most people do that, although a small minority are less careful and tend to rush, when it gets very busy,” says Boonen.
The hyacinth festival runs until 1 May, but exactly how long the flowers will remain in bloom depends on the weather. Due to the mild spring, the hyacinths have bloomed early this year. By the end of the month, the flowering may already start heading downhill.