Sonian Forest Zoniënwoud
Kraainem, Belgium UNESCO World Heritage Site
Sonian Forest is a bluebell wood and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is part of Silva Carbonaria and is a protected monument located across the Brussels-Capital Region, the Flemish Region, and Wallonia. It is one of the 31 most looked-up sights in Belgium on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The forest is open 24/7. April is the driest month with 54 mm of rain, while December is the wettest month with 85 mm of rain and about 14 rainy days. The warmest months are July and August, with daily highs of 22 °C and lows of 13 °C. In January, the daily high is 5 °C and the low is 0 °C. February has a high of 6 °C and a low of 0 °C. May has a high of 17 °C and a low of 8 °C. June has a high of 20 °C and a low of 11 °C. September has a high of 18 °C and a low of 11 °C.
The forest is 11 km from Brussels and 15 km from Brussels Airport (BRU). Nearby sites include Stoclet Palace, 7.5 km away, and Cinquantenaire or Hôtel Tassel, which are about 9 km away. The Royal Palace of Brussels and the Palace of Justice are approximately 10 km from the forest.
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 22 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 5 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 14 | 9 | 6 |
| Average low, °C | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 1 |
| Rainfall, mm | 81 | 65 | 74 | 54 | 73 | 80 | 78 | 81 | 71 | 80 | 78 | 85 |
| Rainy days | 15 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
