Hiking in the Dark: Tips for an Evening or Night Walk in Belgium

Today we switch to winter time. In the night from Saturday to Sunday 25 October 2026, the clocks go back an hour at 3 a.m. to 2 a.m. That means an extra hour in bed, but also darkness arriving earlier. At the end of October the sun sets in Uccle at around half past five, and by mid-November it is already before five o'clock. For many people, that means the end of walks after work. It doesn't have to: a walk in the dark has something magical about it. Pull on your Night Watch Hoodie, with an owl that sees everything the night tries to hide, and read how to walk safely and within the rules in the dark.

Are you allowed to walk in the forest in the evening?

Flanders: every forest has its own rules

In Flanders there is no general rule for walking in the dark. Each forest and nature area has its own access regulation. In many recent regulations, the paths are accessible from half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset. On public roads or during a guided walk you may still pass through the area later. Some forests are more generous.

Tip: check the sign at the entrance to the forest, or look up the area's regulation before you set off.

Wallonia: stick to the roads

In Wallonia you may only walk in the forest on roads and paths that are open to traffic. You must not leave the paths, and lighting a fire or bivouacking in the forest is forbidden. According to the Walloon authorities, anyone who breaks the rules risks a fine of €50 to €150. We found no specific ban on walking in the evening, but the owner of a forest can set its own access rules beyond the public roads.

A safe choice: walk with a guide

Nature associations such as Natuurpunt and Natagora regularly organise evening and night walks in autumn and winter. A guide knows where you are allowed to go, and tells you what you hear and see along the way.

Stay visible: the most important tip

Much of an evening walk is often spent along the road: on the way to the forest, back home or along a country lane. Visibility is vital there. According to wandel.be, as a motorist you only spot a walker in dark clothing at 20 metres, in colourful clothing at 50 metres, and with reflective material at 150 metres.

• Wear reflective material. A hi-vis vest, reflective bands around your ankles or arms, or reflectors on your backpack. According to wandel.be, silver-grey reflectors are more visible than coloured ones.
• Bring a light. A head torch or torch, so you can see the road and be seen yourself.
• Walking in a group on the road? According to the Highway Code, a group of walkers must be lit when it is dark or when you can see less than 200 metres ahead.

That is not excessive caution. According to an analysis by Vias of the years 2013–2023, the number of accidents involving pedestrians in the evening rush hour rises by 35 per cent after the switch to winter time. In November, pedestrians suffered 77 per cent more serious injuries and deaths than in October.

Enjoying the night in nature

Let your eyes adjust

Your eyes need some time to get used to the dark. Switch your lamp off in a safe spot and wait. After a while you can make out the outline of the trees, the path and the stars. If you then look into a bright lamp again, the adjusting starts over. That is why many walkers use a lamp with red light, which dazzles less.

Listen

In the dark, your ears become your most important sense. In autumn and winter you may hear, among other things:

• Owls. In late autumn, tawny owls call their familiar "hoo-hoo-hooo". Read more in our article on owls in Belgium.
• Foxes. In winter, during the mating season, you sometimes hear their shrill bark. Everything about the fox is in our article on foxes in Belgium.
• Roe deer. A roe deer that notices you gives a short, hoarse bark as a warning.
• A howling wolf. You hear one in Belgium only in very few places, but on the Silver Howl Hoodie a wolf howls at the moon above dark forests.
• Rustling leaves, a hedgehog still looking for food, or a bird startled into flight.

A still night, a crescent moon above the hills: that is what the Crescent Peak Sweatshirt is made for, with a moon rising above a mountain ridge.

Look up

On a clear night far from the city you can see many more stars than you might think. Yet true darkness has become rare. According to INBO, the threshold for light pollution is exceeded in 42 per cent of Natura 2000 areas in Flanders. For where it is darkest, read our article on stargazing in Belgium.

What to take

• Head torch or torch, with spare batteries or a charged phone
• Reflective vest or reflectors
• A charged phone with the route saved offline
• Warm clothing in layers. It cools down quickly in the evening. A warm hoodie such as the Star Map Hoodie, with a campfire under a starry sky, keeps you warm.
• Sturdy shoes. Paths are often wet and slippery in autumn, and in the dark you see roots and stones less well. For tips on wet weather, read our article on hiking in the rain.
• Something to drink, and possibly a flask of tea

Safety in the dark

• Choose a route you know, or one you have already walked in daylight.
• Let someone know where you are going and when you will be back.
• Preferably don't walk alone, certainly not the first time.
• Stay on the paths. That way you won't get lost or disturb the animals.
• Don't light a fire and don't leave any litter behind.

Frequently asked questions

Are you allowed to walk in forests at night in Belgium?

That depends on the forest. In Flanders each forest has its own access regulation, often until half an hour after sunset, except on public roads or during a guided walk. In Wallonia you may only walk on roads and paths that are open to traffic.

When do the clocks go back to winter time in 2026?

In the night from Saturday to Sunday 25 October 2026. At 3 a.m. the clocks go back an hour to 2 a.m.

How do you stay visible when walking in the dark?

Wear reflective material and bring a light. In dark clothing a walker is only visible at 20 metres, while reflective material is already visible at 150 metres.

For lovers of the night

An owl calling, the smell of wet leaves and a starry sky above the trees: in the dark you discover a completely different side of nature. Discover our night designs in the Night Sky collection, such as the Lunar Horizon T-shirt with a mountain landscape in the glow of the moon. Shipping is free across the EU from €45 (otherwise €4.99).