The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Forêt de Soignes - Zoniënwoud

The most visible of Dzia's works at the station. Look for the others too. For those who don't know Dzia: some time ago an article appeared in OKV (Openbaar Kunstbezit Vlaanderen) with a photo of a work here at the station and the following description of Dzia: "Dzia is also passionate about animals. He mainly depicts wild animals. Foxes and birds seem to be recurring favorites. His unique style creates a mosaic of colors that follows the contours and shapes of the animal. In his more recent work, he adds tonal shading within each defined area, enhancing a sense of volume. His work tries to give animals a place back in an urban environment. The locations of his murals are carefully chosen and he positions his colorful animals in such a way that a playful interaction with the surroundings is created." And you can find that 40-page dossier on street art in Flemish cities at https://www.okv.be/sites/default/files/2020-09/Street%20art%20in%20Vlaamse%20steden.pdf

A series of beautiful works by Dzia that have been there for a while, see: https://www.ringtv.be/cultuur-beeldende-kunst/graffitikunstenaar-smukt-treinstation-groenendaal-op The colourful birds are however a bit newer, see: https://www.instagram.com/p/DKKVbl6oZ5M/ And if you are in Groenendaal and like Dzia's work, also check out what he did with the ecoduct: https://www.werkenaandering.be/nl/lees-mee/nieuws/beestige-graffiti-kleurt-ecoduct-groenendaal For those who don't know Dzia: some time ago an article appeared in OKV (Openbaar Kunstbezit Vlaanderen) about street art in Flemish cities with a photo of a work that you find here at the station and the following description of Dzia: "Dzia is also passionate about animals. He mainly depicts wild animals. Foxes and birds seem to be recurring favourites. His unique style creates a mosaic of colours that follow the contours and shapes of the animal. In his more recent work, he adds tonal shading within each defined area, which enhances the sense of volume. His work tries to give animals a place in an urban environment again. The locations of his murals are carefully chosen and he positions his colourful animals in such a way that a playful interaction with the environment arises." And this 40-page dossier on street art in Flemish cities can be found at: https://www.okv.be/sites/default/files/2020-09/Street%20art%20in%20Vlaamse%20steden.pdf

A section is currently inaccessible because they want to purify the water that flows into the Ijse. You can, however, explore the small stream and the valley's structure via a small path in this corner, which is located a bit further from the main paths.

On the IJse, which springs from the Zoniënwoud, lies a series of five ponds. Until the 18th century, these ponds were owned by the priory of Groenendaal. After the dissolution of the monastery in 1783, maintenance of the ponds declined, causing them to silt up in the course of the 19th century. King Leopold II (hence the name Koningsvijvers gradually emerged) who harbored grand plans for the spatial development of his capital Brussels, set his sights on the ponds on the edge of the Zoniënwoud near Hoeilaart. For the construction of the ponds east of Sint-Jansberglaan, the land had to be purchased first. The Belgian state acquired the grounds in 1903, while work on the ponds had already started in 1902! Despite the enormous earthmoving required to excavate the silted-up ponds, the contractor delivered the works as early as January 1903. The new ponds would henceforth be known to the public as the Koningsvijvers. The intervention ensured that not only the ponds, but also the surrounding environment was added back to the Zoniënwoud. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Ponds of the priory Groenendaal, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/310121

Pijlerkapel, located in the back between the Lindevijver and the Putselvijver near the beginning of the so-called Processieweg, presumably from the second half of the 19th century. Damaged around 2004, subsequently restored and repainted. Little is known about the origin and establishment of the chapel. It is not shown on the Popp map from the mid-19th century or the topographical map of 1867, but it is on that of 1891. In the literature, it is dated around 1870. White-painted brick construction on a rectangular floor plan, covered by a slate gable roof that projects strongly at the front, with an elaborate wooden wind board. Picked plinth. Grilled round arch niche with a barrel vault and a statue of Saint Cornelius, patron saint of farmers and cattle; he is also invoked for epilepsy, cramps, and nerve pain, among other things. The chapel is flanked by lime trees with tree chapels, dedicated to Saint Teresa (left) and Our Lady of Lourdes (right). Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Saint Cornelius Chapel flanked by lime trees with tree chapels, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/302943

The Groenendaal station and its associated shelter were built in the typical "national" station style between 1893 and 1896, in this case a rather luxurious execution due to the abundant use of natural stone and great attention to detail. This can possibly be explained by the great attraction of Groenendaal to the Brussels bourgeoisie as an ideal starting point for a forest walk combined with a restaurant visit, but also by the figure of Leopold II, who was reportedly directly involved in the design and was a regular visitor to the Groenendaal racecourse (1889). The Groenendaal station, near the Zoniënwoud, is the only station building on the Brussels-Luxembourg line in Flemish territory. This railway line was built between 1847 and 1857 by the "Grande Compagnie du Luxembourg", which also had the management concession. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Groenendaal station with shelter, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/200186

Known for its distinctive shape with three protrusions that resemble the toes of a goose foot.

Narrow path, small stream, fallen trees...cozy