National Parks in Belgium

National parks in Belgium are defined as large, contiguous natural or semi-natural landscapes of high ecological and scenic value, managed for the purposes of nature conservation, recreation, education, and scientific research. Currently, there are six national parks in the Belgium: Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen, Nationaal Park Bosland, Nationaal Park Brabantse Wouden, Parc national de la Vallée de la Semois (Valley of the Semois), Parc national de L’Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse and Nationaal Park Scheldevallei (Scheldt Valley). Four of these national parks are located in Flanders (Nationaal Parks) and two are found in Wallonia (Parc national). These parks cover approximately 4,1% of the country’s surface area. Each park is unique, so let’s take a closer look at each one.

Hoge Kempen National Park

The oldest national park in Belgium, Hoge Kempen National Park was founded in 2006. The park consists of heathland and pine forests set on the Kempens Plateau in the east of Flanders near Genk and Maastricht. There are over 200 km of hiking trails, plenty of biking routes and plenty of wildlife to lookout for. The park is also home to many small lakes and sand dunes. Popular sights include the Terhills (man-made peaks from gravel extraction) and Mechelse Heide (a large heathland that flowers from mid-August to mid-September).

Bosland National Park

Located in the East of Flanders near Lommel and just 15 km northwest of Hoge Kempen National Park. Bosland National Park, founded in 2023, is a forest covered park that is home to some of Belgium’s only wolves. Other large wildlife found in the park include eagle owls, foxes, roe deer, and wild boars. While the park itself is small in area (5,032 ha), there are plenty of hiking and biking trails that wind through the forests and heathlands of the park. One of the main goals of this national park is to be the most child-friendly forest in Flanders.

Brabantse Wouden National Park

Located just south of Brussels and Leuven, the Brabantse Wouden National Park (founded 2023) is a collection of forests – some remnants of the ancient forests called Silva Carbonaria. Today the area in Flemish Brabant is semi-forested, with towns and farms between the woods. There are nearly 1000 km of footpaths and all types of cycle paths to discover. Some of the most famous forests in the park are Hallerbos (known for its spectacular late spring bluebell blooms) and the Sonian Forest (4400 hectares of beech forest at the edge of Brussels).

Valley of the Semois National Park

The Valley of the Semois National Park is located in the rugged Ardennes forests of Southwestern Belgium (Wallonia). This park contains the Semois River where it’s most stunning bends and deep valleys are on full display. The park consists of 86% forested land and almost 700 km of waterways. Hiking, Biking, and paddling are popular activities along the river. The park is known for its epic viewpoints such as Le Tombeau de Geant, Rocher du Chat, and the Panorama de Frahan.

L’entre-Sambre-Meuse National Park

Located in the west of Belgium just southwest of Dinant, L’entre-Sambre-Meuse National Park is a forest covered park with three distinct geologic zones. In the north of the park lies The Fen, a region of meadows, waterways, and ponds. The Ardennes makes up the southern half of the park, dominated by folded rocks and old growth forests. In between these two, the pastoral limestone hills of the Calestienne can be found. Hiking and biking trails can be found throughout the park and the park has an extensive bivouac network – if you want to bed down in the wild.

Scheldt Valley National Park

One of the more urban national parks in Europe, The Scheldt Valley National Park follows the banks of the Scheldt River from Antwerp to Ghent. The brackish Scheldt River experiences a tide with a 6 meter difference in water levels, creating a dynamic environment. Along it’s shores, castles, marshes and willow flood forests have been preserved in order to create a vibrant natural area. The 181 km Schelde Route invites cyclists to travel the length of the park and numerous walking routes follow along the river’s stretch. A proper visit to this park includes a visit to some of the intricate castles on river such as Bornem Castle, D’Ursel castle, Laarne Castle, and Wissekerke Castle.