Belgium Cycle - Bruges to Brussels

UNESCO World Heritage listed Bruges is a feast for the eyes. Known as the 'Pearl of Flanders' it is truly enchanting and well worth spending more time here if you can. With most of its medieval architecture intact, it remains exceptionally well preserved. With its favourable location and connection with the sea, Bruges flourished in the early Middle Ages, becoming an international and industrious port and trading city. Flemish cloth production provided an economic boost from the 11th century to the 15th century. Today it is a vibrant city with lots to see and do. After checking in to your hotel, we recommend heading to the Markt for some delicious waffles, chocolates or beer, and exploring on foot.

This morning you begin your cycle by following the canal out of town. The Ghent-Bruges Canal dates from the 14th century and is one of the oldest in the country. Together with its towpaths, it forms a green corridor that has proved valuable for biodiversity. Past quiet villages such as Moerbrugge, Maria-Aalter and Knesselare, you will cycle through the flat Flemish countryside to Maldegem. In the evening, put your feet up in Maldegem - or if you feel like walking you can explore Maldegemveld nature reserve, which has some interesting flora, the product of sandy soil (low in nutrients; acidic) and superficial, waterlogged clay deposits.

Today you traverse the rural Meetjesland region, a cycling paradise with woods, meadowland and vast cropfields. Enjoy the play of light as you ride your bike through the woods of Het Leen and Drongengoed. After, it is easy-pedalling through the flat landscape to Eeklo, a small town known for its many sculptures. Continue to Ghent, where the Old Town is like an open-air museum. It is also a UNESCO Creative City of Music. The music scene here thrives, with festivals, music institutions, the carillon, concerts, students of music having a singsong on the quays… music is everywhere. After dark the ambiance is magical, thanks to the town’s ingenious light plan.

For the main part of the day, the River Scheldt will be your guide. Follow it upstream past a string of Flemish villages and towns. A 13th-century castle is an eyecatcher in the village of Laarne: a great place for a break. End the day in Dendermonde with its impressive Town Hall & Belfry. After checking in at your hotel, take some time to visit the Church of Our Lady boasting a baptismal font from the 11th century and/or visit one of the local breweries.

This morning you make your way back to the Scheldt and cycle atop the river dike towards Antwerp. A delightful interlude is De Zilverreiger, a regional museum focused on preserving knowledge about trades and crafts that once flourished locally: basket weaving, river fishery, cooperage (barrel making), flax processing and clog making. After crossing the Scheldt by ferry, you will reach Kruibeke, home to Wissekerk Castle. In the 10th century this was a so-called water castle and part of the defence line of Antwerp along the river. Finish your day in Antwerp, a city with a long beer tradition and countless cafes. Discover the beautiful Old Town or go shopping for antiques and curios, vintage clothing - or diamonds!

A shorter ride today allows time to explore Antwerp some more before setting off. For some military heritage, stop in Mortsel to visit Fort no. 4 of the originally eight Brialmont Forts (1860-1864) that made up the defensive line of Antwerp. It is built in brick with sandstone decorations and stands on an island surrounded by a ditch. Continue along quiet country lanes and alongside the River Nete to Duffel, the town where “duffel”, the heavy, woolly material used initially for bags and later for duffle coats, originated. In the 15th century, duffel was produced here and exported all over Europe - a profitable business for then-prosperous Duffel. In the town of Sint-Kathelijne-Waver, at the Ursuline Institute, a boarding school run by nuns, an exquisite surprise awaits. The convent/school complex, Our Lady of Wavre, is a successful blend of art nouveau, neo-Gothic, neo-Empire and art deco. Best of all: the winter garden! Feast your eyes on a masterpiece of art nouveau, an ode to nature, springtime and light. Top off your day in Mechelen, small but attractive.

Today you'll cycle on tree-lined country lanes, past a series of ponds, along a river, around a wood and through meadows and cropfields to Brussels. Along the way you'll pass Tervuren, known for the Royal Africa Museum. In Brussels you will find a mix of cultures, as can be seen in the streets, menus and people. Head for the Grote Markt (Grand Place) with its opulent guildhalls and town hall and the nearby landmark Manneken Pis. Other attractions include Atomium and the Art Nouveau Horta Museum, and try some local specialties - delicious waffles, chocolates and beer. A city for culture, shopping and eating!