It’s time to say goodbye to summer in Belgium. The whirlwind of cultural and music festivals are coming to an end. Even though autumn doesn’t officially start until the autumnal equinox on September 22, you can already feel a change in the air.
Temperatures are dropping, leaves are changing colors and summer festivals are coming to an end. I’ve already had to rake my leaves — twice!
In Wallonia, the French-speaking part of Belgium, children are already back in school. Flanders and the German part of the country follow suit on September 1.
Hello, Autumn
Autumn is my favorite time of year. There are fewer tourists and visitors in the cities, countryside and beaches on the North Sea. For people who love hiking, there’s no better time to visit. For me, it’s the perfect time to wander through the forests and fens and see the colorful displays of heather in northern Belgium.
The heather in my garden has transformed the cool greens of summer into a purple haze, and I’ve already made three trips up to nearby Averbode in Scherpenheuvel-Zichem where the countryside is covered with acres and acres of purple heather, which will continue to bloom into September. If you want to experience it, too, here are three areas not to miss: Kalmhout Heath, Averbode Forest and Heath and Hoge Kempen National Park.
Kalmhout Heath
In the province of Antwerp near the Dutch border, Kalmthout Heath beckons nature lovers. It’s actually a cross-border park that extends into the Netherlands. With nearly 15,000 acres of dunes, forests and heathland, it’s an ideal place to experience the beauty of heather. You’ll find plenty of hiking trails, picturesque ponds and lakes, a lookout tower that gives you bird’s eye views across the fenlands, and even a nature center.
Averbode Forest and Heath
Averbode Bos en Heide nature preserve is my go-to heather hiking spot. It’s perfect for a day out. Walk through the forests, fens, heathlands and sandy meadows and discover fields of heather, some along serene lakes where you can spot herons, egrets and storks. Be sure to take time to discover the Norbertine Abbey, founded in the 12th century, and try some abbey beer and local products at Het Moment Cafe.
High Kempen National Park
Located in east Limburg about an hour and a quarter from Brussels, Hoge Kempen National Park is 16.000-acre national park that will take your breath away. From dense pine forests to heathland exploding with purple flowers, you’ll experience nature in a whole new way. There are a variety of areas to explore, each with its own flavor and features. Mechelse Heide is probably the most popular during heather season. It’s located in Maasmechelen, where you’ll also find a luxury discount shopping outlet. Other favorites are Bosland National Park, De Teut and Ten Haagdoornheide.
Plan Your Trip
Book a hotel in Antwerp or Hasselt for the easiest access to heather sites. Both are located in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. Don’t worry about language, though. Almost everyone speaks English in Flanders, unlike Wallonia where French is the official language and many residents are not fond of communicating in English.
The Flanders tourism office offers lots of resources for visitors that will make trip planning a breeze. And if you plan a trip later in the autumn, check out the Brussels Beer Weekend in September and Bruges Beer Festival.
You don’t need to wait until September to sample new beers. If you make a trip to Averbode, you can try the authentic abbey beers or even sample one of the alcohol-free beers available at Het Moment Cafe adjacent to Averbode Abbey. Enjoy!
