Wolves in Belgium: Facts, Myths and What the Wolf Symbolises

For more than a hundred years, the wolf was gone from our region. Today it is back, stirring admiration, debate and lots of questions. How many wolves are there? Are they dangerous? Do they really howl at the moon? And why does the wolf capture our imagination so strongly?

The return of the wolf to Flanders

In 2018 a wolf appeared in Limburg for the first time in a very long while. More soon followed. The best-known story is that of the she-wolf Noëlla and the male August. From 2019 they formed a pair in the north of Limburg, and in 2020 their first pups were born: the first Flemish wolf pack in more than a century.

Noëlla went on to have several more litters. August died in 2023, and in March 2026 Noëlla was killed in a road accident. Meanwhile, a she-wolf called Emma lives north of Antwerp, and wandering wolves pass through the country from time to time.

In September 2025, Belgium had four packs: one in Flanders and three in Wallonia. The situation changes quickly. For the latest figures, check the website of the Flemish Agency for Nature and Forests.

What exactly is a pack?

A pack isn't a random gang of wolves. It's a family: a breeding pair and their young from recent years, usually around 4 to 8 animals. The young stay with their parents for one or two years and learn to hunt. Then they leave to find a partner and a territory of their own.

These young wanderers are the real "lone wolves". They aren't alone by choice, but because they're looking for a place of their own. That is exactly how Noëlla and August ended up in Flanders.

Do wolves really howl at the moon?

No, that's a myth. The image of a wolf howling at the full moon from a rock comes mainly from horror films and stories.

Wolves howl to communicate: to let each other know where they are, to call the pack together, or to warn other wolves that this is their territory. They often do so at dusk and at night, and more often in winter, during the mating season. They raise their heads because the sound carries further, which is how the misunderstanding arose.

It's still a beautiful image, though. That's why it features on our Silver Howl designs.

Are wolves dangerous to people?

According to the Flemish Agency for Nature and Forests, the risk is so small that it "cannot be calculated". Wolves are shy and avoid people. If you ever see one, consider yourself lucky.

What if you do meet a wolf?

• Stay calm and keep your distance.
• Make yourself look big, clap your hands and shout loudly.
• Don't run: step back calmly instead.
• Keep your dog on a lead. A wolf may see a dog as an intruder or as prey.
• Never feed wolves.

For sheep and other animals in a field, it's a different story: wolf-proof fencing protects them.

Protected, but less strictly than before

The wolf is a protected species in Europe. Since July 2025, however, the EU Habitats Directive lists it as "protected" instead of "strictly protected". Member states must transpose this change into their own rules by January 2027. What that will mean in practice for Flanders and Wallonia is still being worked out.

What does the wolf symbolise?

Few animals carry as much meaning in stories and cultures as the wolf.

• Family and loyalty: the pack protects one another and hunts together. The wolf stands for loyalty to the people you love.
• Freedom and independence: the lone wolf finding its own way is a symbol for anyone who chooses their own path.
• Instinct and intuition: the wolf trusts its senses and nature.
• Mythology: in Roman legend a she-wolf nursed Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. In Norse mythology the wolves Sköll and Hati chase the sun and the moon, and in many Indigenous cultures of North America the wolf is a power animal and a teacher.

That's why so many people choose a wolf as a tattoo, a logo or on their clothing: it's an animal that stands for something they recognise in themselves.

Frequently asked questions

How many wolves live in Belgium?

That changes all the time. In September 2025 there were four established packs (one in Flanders, three in Wallonia), plus a number of wandering and solitary wolves. Current figures are available from the Flemish Agency for Nature and Forests and the Walloon authorities.

Where do wolves live in Flanders?

Mainly in the Campine (Limburg and the province of Antwerp), in large areas of forest and heathland. Wandering wolves are sometimes seen elsewhere too.

Why do wolves howl?

To communicate with their pack and with other wolves: "here I am", "come together" or "this is our territory". It has nothing to do with the moon.

Carry the wolf with you

Our Wolf collection has three designs: the lone wolf at sunset (Lone Dusk), the wolf howling at the moon (Silver Howl) and a pack in a forest at night (Pack North). Each design is available as a T-shirt, sweatshirt and hoodie.