The winter season is a special time for Arboretum Kalmthout. When most other gardens are hibernating, the Arboretum garden is fully alive with winter blossoms. The witch hazels, Hamamelis, are truly magical. Indifferent to cold or snow, the yellow, orange and red blossoms on bare branches spread a powerful but wonderfully sweet perfume through the entire garden.

The witch hazel collection is the oldest and largest in Europe and includes some of the largest and oldest known examples. A special walking tour past all the winter blossoming plants has been laid out through the garden.

During the Witch Hazel Festival there are organised tours with Dutch-speaking guides daily at 2pm. Sundays, there is a tour with a French-speaking guide as well. The tours last about one hour and take visitors past the witch hazels and other winter-blossoming plants. Tour guide tickets will be available in our online ticket shop.