List of protected areas of Belgium

There are numerous protected areas in Belgium with a wide variety of types, protection levels and sizes. The below list gives an overview of the most important protected areas.

National parks

There are currently five national parks in Belgium, De Hoge Kempen National Park opening in 2006.^[1]^{[dubious – discuss]}. In 2022 two national parks were designated in Wallonia: Parc National de L'Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse and Parc National de la Vallée de la Semois. In 2023 three national parks were designated in Flanders: Nationaal Park Scheldevallei, Nationaal Park Bosland and Nationaal Park Brabantse Wouden.

Name	Founded in	Area (km²)
Hoge Kempen National Park	2006	127
L'Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse National Park [nl]	2022	221.29
Vallée de la Semois National Park [nl]	2022	290
Brabantse Wouden National Park [nl]	2023
Scheldevallei National Park [nl]	2023
Bosland National Park [nl]	2023

Natural parks

There are many natural parks in Belgium, including 9 in Wallonia (called Parcs Naturels).

Name	Founded in	Area (km²)	Comments
Hohes Venn – Eifel Nature Park	1978	720	This natural park is a transboundary park between Belgium and Germany.
Burdinale-Mehaigne Nature Park	1991	110
Two Ourthes Nature Park	2001	760
Upper Sure Anlier Forest Nature Park	2001	720
Attert Valley Nature Park	1994	70
Viroin-Hermeton Nature Park	1998	120
Scheldt Plains Nature Park	1996	260
Hill Country Nature Park	1997	233
Gaume Natural Park	2014	581
High Country Nature Park	2002	157	11.5% (1,840 ha) is Natura 2000^[2]

Nature reserves

There are many tiny nature reserves, including:

Zwin 1.58 km² (1.25 km² on Belgian territory)

Landscape parks

There are currently five landscape parks all of whom where founded in 2023.

Photo	Name	Founded in	Area (km²)
	Vlaamse Ardennen Landscape Park [nl]	2023
	Zwinstreek Landscape Park [nl]	2023
	Hart van Haspengouw Landscape Park [nl]	2023
	Grenzeloos bocagelandschap Landscape Park [nl]	2023
	Maasvallei Landscape Park [nl]	2023

References

^ "Ignace Schops - Goldman Prize". Retrieved 2009-01-22. After years of campaigning, Ignace Schops has led the effort to establish Belgium's first and only national park.
^ These figures are from the park's website, but doesn't add up. Either 11.5 % is wrong or 1,840 ha is wrong.

[1] "Ignace Schops - Goldman Prize". Retrieved 2009-01-22. After years of campaigning, Ignace Schops has led the effort to establish Belgium's first and only national park.

[2] These figures are from the park's website, but doesn't add up. Either 11.5 % is wrong or 1,840 ha is wrong.

[1]

[2]