Brussels is a lot greener than you might think. With its 8,000 hectares of green space, it is even the second greenest city in the world, after Washington. Today, we’re inviting you to discover the Promenade Verte!
‘La Promenade Verte’ (‘The Green Walk’) is a route of around 60 kilometres around Brussels, following marked paths through both urban and rural areas.
Seven routes
The Promenade Verte is signposted all along its trajectory. It is divided into 7 sections ranging from 5 to 12 kilometres, so you can discover each route at your own pace.
Each section has a clear start and end point. In this article, we explain how you can combine the Promenade Verte with the STIB/MIVB. For each section, we mention one of the two access points (each section can of course be walked in both directions). The second access point is then mentioned in the following section.
1. The Heysel Plateau end the royal parks
The first section is 6.6 kilometres long and takes you past large open spaces such as Laeken Park, Osseghem Park and the Atomium, as well as more intimate spots like the Colonial Garden, Sobieski Park and the Florist’s Gardens. You will walk past the Japanese Tower and, on the other side of the canal, discover a railway scene near Schaerbeek station
Access: Jean Offenberg roundabout, tram 7, 19 or 62 (stop ‘Sint-Lambertus’), metro 6 (stop ‘Heysel’)
2. Between Senne and Woluwe
This 7.1-kilometre section of the route connects, as its name suggests, the valleys of the Senne and the Woluwe. Although it runs through the city, you can admire an old mill along the way. The marshland near the Hof ten Berg farm is also well worth a detour.
Access: Parc du Doolegt, tram 55 (stop ‘Tilleul’), bus 59 (stop ‘Picardie’).
3. The Woluwe Valley
This 7.1-kilometre section of the route connects, as its name suggests, the valleys of the Senne and the Woluwe. Although it runs through the city, you can admire an old mill along the way. The marshland near the Hof ten Berg farm is also well worth a detour.
Access: metro 1 (stop ‘Alma’).
4. The Sonian Forest and southern Uccle
This section of the walk is 8 kilometres long. It starts at Tournay-Solvay Park and leads into the Sonian Forest. This forest is known for its beech trees, some of which can be up to 200 years old.
In Uccle, you cross the Engeland Plateau and the former Kauwberg sand quarry. You may spot soms frogs, bats and newts in the Kinsendael-Kriekenput nature reserve.
Access: tram 8 (stop ‘Boitsfort Gare’) or, thanks to our SNCB/NMBS colleagues, using S-train 8 (stop ‘Boitsfort Gare’).
5. Between Geleytsbeek and Vogelzangbeek
With 11.2 kilometres, this section is the longest part of the Promenade Verte. It also offers the greatest contrasts, alternating between natural areas, the canal and an industrial zone.
In Forest, you can discover Bempt Park and its legendary little steam train (check the timetable!). Beneath the ring road, you can see the Senne flowing in the open air before it goes underground again.
Access: Kinsendael, bus 60 (stop ‘Engeland’).
6. Pajottenland
This 7.2-kilometre section runs between Anderlecht and Molenbeek, in the west of Brussels.
The Pede Valley, Scheutbos, Neerpede: they are emblematic of the landscape heritage of the Pajottenland. Not far from there, you can also find the setting of Bruegel’s The Blind leading the Blind.
Once in Molenbeek, you can discover the listed Scheutbos site, which offers a stunning panorama of both Brussels and the surrounding countryside.
Access: Route de Lennik, metro 5 (stop ‘Erasme’)
7. The Molenbeek valley
This walk takes you through the many faces of the Molenbeek Valley. The Koning Boudewijnpark shifts effortlessly between sports fields and wild marshland, with the stately beech forests of Laarbeek, Dieleghem and Poelbos just around the corner.
Further along, the Zavelenberg surprises with grazing cows set against an urban skyline: one of the last active farms in Brussels lies tucked away here among hedges and wet meadows.
The walk concludes at the Wilderbos, where orchard, pond and hay meadow blend gently into historic Sint-Agatha-Berchem.
Access: tram 7, 19 or 62 (Sint-Lambertus stop), metro 6 (Heizel stop)
All info on the Promenade Verte)
La Promenade Verte on Google Maps