Century-old beech trees, dead straight avenues and an almost endless peace characterize the Sonian Forest. With its 4,421 hectares, this is the largest beech forest in the country, barely ten kilometers from the center of Brussels. Beech trees more than 200 years old are no exception here. Once a hunting ground for princes, the forest was later also a hiding place for soldiers and a supplier of firewood. Today, the best-preserved parts are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Sonian Forest is the heart of the Brabant Woods National Park.
Practical
In the Sonian Forest, your dog must always be on a leash. Unless otherwise stated.
The Forest Museum is located in the middle of the Sonian Forest.
Children, youngsters, school classes and youth movements can romp freely, build camps, organize forest games in the different play zones in the forest.
Explore a piece of the Sonian Forest at a leisurely pace? Close your eyes, focus your senses and feel the stress slip away.
You can take out a fishing rod at these places: Putselvijver and Lindenvijver (Groenendaal) and Vossemvijver (Tervuren): you need a fishing permit for this.