Top 20 Natural Monuments around Vilvoorde

The area offers a rich variety of habitats: you'll walk through forests, grasslands, scrubland, and fields with varying degrees of moisture and nutrient richness. The calcareous springs in the south of the area foster a very specific flora in the central stream valley. Along the way, you'll encounter wild garlic, water plantain, wood anemones, and bracken, among other plants. (Visit Dilbeek)

A 90-hectare gem in the Green Belt, just a stone's throw from Brussels. This nature reserve is known for its rich terrain, with beautiful spring flora alternating between dry and marshy areas. Restored and newly constructed boardwalks—a total of approximately 370 meters—guide you comfortably through the valley without damaging the fragile, wetlands. The highlight of Wolfsputten is undoubtedly the new viewing platform, a popular stop or selfie spot. Want to know more? Click through to https://www.natuurenbos.be/natuurgebieden/wolfsputten

The Wolfsputten form a varied nature reserve with ravine forests, calcareous spring streams and rare flora such as wild garlic, orchids and giant horsetail. In this rolling landscape you walk along old sandstone quarries and deeply cut stream valleys that once provided the building materials for churches and town halls in Brussels, Ghent and Leuven. With more than 300 plant species and dozens of birds and mammals, this is one of Flanders' most biodiverse places.

Mispeldonk Nature Reserve is a beautiful and valuable nature reserve in Bonheiden, located in the province of Antwerp. The area is known for its unique ecosystems, rich biodiversity and the natural beauty of the landscape. Here are some key points about Mispeldonk: Location and Size Mispeldonk is located between Bonheiden and the nearby municipality of Rijmenam, along the banks of the Dijle. The area is part of the larger Dijle landscape, which is known for its wet meadows, meandering waterways and rich flora and fauna. Mispeldonk covers approximately 50 hectares and consists of a mix of marshlands, meadows, forests and ponds. Ecological Importance Mispeldonk is a protected nature reserve because of its special ecological value. The area has a typical structure of a flood plain of the Dijle, which makes it an important habitat for many plant and animal species: • Flora: Various rare and protected plant species grow in the area, such as marsh marigolds, cuckoo flowers and water violets. The wet grasslands and marshes provide unique vegetation that is less common elsewhere in the region. • Fauna: Mispeldonk is an important habitat for birds such as the bluethroat, water rail and reed warbler. Amphibians such as the crested newt and the green frog can also be found there. Furthermore, the area is rich in insects, including butterflies and dragonflies, that thrive in the moist environment. Water management The nature reserve plays an important role in local water management. It is located in a flood-prone area along the Dijle and functions as a natural buffer against flooding. In the event of high water levels, the area can collect water and thus help prevent flooding in nearby villages. The nature reserve contributes to the preservation of water quality by filtering and purifying the water through natural processes. Recreation and Experience Mispeldonk is a popular place for nature lovers and hikers. The area is accessible via various hiking trails that lead through the meadows and forests. There are signposted routes that give walkers the chance to explore the diversity of the landscape and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature. Birdwatchers enjoy visiting the area because of the variety of bird species that can be seen, especially during the breeding season and the migratory bird periods. Management and Protection The nature reserve is managed by Natuurpunt, a Belgian organisation that is committed to nature conservation. Natuurpunt carries out management work to protect biodiversity and maintain the landscape. This includes mowing grasslands, removing invasive plant species and maintaining the walking paths. There is collaboration with local farmers for nature-friendly agriculture, whereby meadows are extensively grazed or mowed, so that they remain suitable for meadow birds and rare plants.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the independence of Belgium and at the same time as the World Exhibition, King Leopold II had the Jubilee Park (Parc du Cinquantenaire) built in 1880. The architect Gédéon Bordiau drew up the plans. The intention was to create a green area with pavilions for various exhibitions. The triumphal arch (arcade) connects two wings covering a total area of 30 hectares. Note the beautiful symmetry of the French and English-inspired gardens, the lawns and the wide avenues.

Extra in the spring the orchard is in bloom and spring bloomers, but a lot of mud.

Beautiful walking area in nature

It is one of the largest parks in the capital with its nearly 69 hectares, its history is intimately linked to that of the creation of the avenue de Tervueren within the framework of the Universal Exhibition of 1897. The distribution of the exhibition on two sites (the Parc du Cinquantenaire and the royal estate of Tervueren) requiring a connecting axis, a landscaped park is envisaged along the avenue to embellish it and attract the bourgeois of the capital. Landscape architect Emile Lainé will be entrusted with the development project. Earthworks will be undertaken, using in particular the earth removed during the construction of the four ponds to give the park its rugged relief of English inspiration. The park is also distinguished by the variety of its trees with some 180 different species.