After two cancelled editions, the hyacinth festival will resume its usual activities this year.
The wild hyacinths of Halle wood should be in bloom during the second half of April, the Flemish agency in charge of parks and natural areas, Natuur en Bos announced on Monday, according to a report by BX1 News. Their flowering attracts thousands of visitors every year, some even travelling from abroad.
The City of Hal and Natuur en Bos can count on 40 volunteers recruited to manage the influx of visitors. They are notably responsible for informing and guiding visitors so that they do not leave the walking paths. Other volunteers are also present to pick up any waste.
The municipal authorities ask visitors not to drive to the woods and to use alternative means of transport as much as possible. A free shuttle bus service will be set up between Halle station and the wood on April 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 and 30 as well as May 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
In 2019, according to the mayor, around 17,000 people used the free shuttle. It will also be possible to rent bicycles for free at the station, from April 16 to May 1.
The Bois de Halle, in Flemish Brabant, is one of the few places for walking that hosts so many hyacinths in Flanders. This small, fragile purple flower is present in such quantities that it forms an immense colored carpet. The hyacinth “festival” had been cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Image via BX1
