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Watermael-Boitsfort - Bosvoorde

Vuilbeek Valley – Étang Sec (Sonian Forest) loop from Boitsfort - Bosvoorde

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Belgium

Brussels

Watermael-Boitsfort - Bosvoorde

Vuilbeek Valley – Étang Sec (Sonian Forest) loop from Boitsfort - Bosvoorde

Easy

4.8

(22)

hikers

Vuilbeek Valley – Étang Sec (Sonian Forest) loop from Boitsfort - Bosvoorde

01:18

4.95km

40m

Hiking

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: May 16, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

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1.15 km

Wetlands in the Sonian Forest

Highlight • Natural

Wetlands face major challenges from the triple global crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, but they are also part of the solution.

Wetlands are among the most important ecosystems on Earth. They provide refuge for wildlife, support 40% of the world’s biodiversity, clean up pollution and store significant amounts of carbon. Wetlands, such as bogs and peatlands, are the silent heroes in the fight against the climate crisis because they store more carbon than any other ecosystem. For example, peatlands contain twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests. In addition, wetlands absorb excess water and prevent flooding and drought elsewhere, which is crucial for communities adapting to a changing climate.

Water bodies are a key ally in our fight against biodiversity loss. More than 140,000 species – including 55% of all fish species – depend on freshwater habitats for survival. Freshwater species are important to local ecosystems as they provide food and income for people and play a key role in controlling flooding and erosion. Yet, species in freshwater habitats are becoming extinct at a faster rate than species on land or in the sea. Nearly one-third of all freshwater biodiversity is at risk of extinction due to invasive species, pollution, habitat loss and overexploitation.

To slow the pollution crisis, we need to protect and restore wet and humid habitats. Wetlands can improve water quality by removing pollutants from surface waters by trapping sediments, removing nutrients. They act as buffers or sponges that can absorb, store and process pollutants.

They have enormous potential to address the triple crisis. By strengthening wetland protection, we are investing in people’s health and well-being. Food security, water security and health benefits estimated at over USD 47 trillion per year are possible through better wetland management.

To meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, we need to protect and restore wetlands. Coastal wetlands store carbon up to 55 times faster than tropical rainforests. Wetlands contain about 12 percent of the world’s carbon stock. Draining them would release millions of tons of CO2 and other harmful substances, such as arsenic. Wetlands also provide additional resilience to extreme weather events for local communities.

Translated by Google •

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1.20 km

Vuilbeek Valley

Highlight (Segment) • River

The Vuilbeek rises in the Zoniënwoud in Uccle, and meanders through a small valley, after which it merges with the Karregatbeek and the Zwanewijdebeek to form the Woluwe. The Vuilbeekpad is a pleasant, winding path through the nature reserve of the Vuilbeek.

Translated by Google •

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1.79 km

Étang Sec (Sonian Forest)

Highlight • Lake

The whole Sonian Forest is so beautiful!

Translated by Google •

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2.13 km

Wetlands and ponds in the Sonian Forest

Highlight • Lake

The Sonian Forest is a complex ecosystem at the landscape level. At this spot, these wet grasslands and ponds are a ‘micro-ecosystem’, with many various species: in spring you will hear frogs singing and see quite a lot of insects as this is an open space with a lot of light.

We could even go to a more granular level and look at a tree trunk as an ecosystem hosting various insect species and microscopic animals living in it.

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2.38 km

Beech forest in the Sonian Forest

Highlight • Forest

In its youth, a beech tree likes shade. They can establish in the shade of other more light-loving tree species. Conversely, no tree is able to establish itself under a closed crown canopy of beeches. We therefore call beech the climax tree species. It closes the natural forest succession and can maintain it for a very long time, provided that no large-scale and brutal disturbances turn its realm upside down.

This spot is very typical of the forest management of the Sonian forest: all the trees are the same age, same species. In this part you see mono-specific forestry, these are all beech trees.

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2.39 km