The best walks and hikes around Hoeilaart

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 some time, see https://www.ringtv.be/cultuur-beeldende-kunst/graffitikunstenaar-smukt-treinstation-groenendaal-op The colorful little birds are a bit newer, though, see https://www.instagram.com/p/DKKVbl6oZ5M/ And if you are in Groenendaal and like Dzia's work, also take a look at 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 by 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, 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 colorful animals in such a way that a playful interaction with the surroundings is created." And you can find this 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

At the Koningsvijvers there is one of the few bald cypresses in the Sonian Forest. It has been planted on the edge of the grassy hollow as an eye-catcher. Inventory Immovable Heritage: Bald Cypress Koningsvijvers, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/304789 As you can see from the photos, the beaver also knows how to find the ponds.

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

On the IJse, which springs from the Zoniënwoud, lies a series of five ponds. Until the 18th century, these ponds belonged to the priory of Groenendaal. After the dissolution of the monastery in 1783, maintenance of the ponds dwindled, 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

The Groenendaal racecourse was built in 1888-1889 on the initiative of Leopold II in the middle of the Sonian Forest, next to the road to Waterloo, and in 1892, as part of easy access, it received its own railway connection to Groenendaal station. To realize this racecourse, approximately 100 hectares of forest were cleared at the end of the 19th century. King Leopold II had his own box there, located between two metal grandstands for the public. After the First World War, this area was used for the dismantling of weapons and ammunition left behind in the Westhoek. German prisoners of war had to clear mines under the supervision of the Belgian army. During a fire and the subsequent explosions of ammunition on May 6, 1919, the hippodrome's grandstands and buildings were heavily damaged. After another explosion in November, the ammunition depot was completely dismantled in 1920. Two years later, the racecourse was restored and the grandstands were rebuilt. The royal box for Albert I was not rebuilt until 1924. Its appearance was completely different from the pre-war grandstand. When the current appearance came about is not entirely clear, although the current box is attributed to Albert I in the literature, see also monogram. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Royal Box and remains of bookmaker's room, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/302991