Belgium Cycle - Brussels to Bruges

On arrival in Brussels, make your way to the joining hotel for check in. We suggest heading out to explore the Grande Place. Not only does Brussels have Manneken Pis, it also has the most delicious waffles, chocolates and pints. This is a city where culture vultures, shopaholics, and gourmets & gourmands will thrive.

After one last tour of the Grande Place it’s time to leave the city behind. Set off for Tervuren, known for the Royal Aftica Museum. Continue on tree-lined country lanes, past a series of ponds, alongside a river. Woodlands, meadows and farmed fields lead to Mechelen, a small, lovely Flemish town.

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 and art deco, and the winter garden is an ode to nature and light. Continue your ride through the countryside to Duffel on the River Nete. This is where “duffels” originated: the heavy, woolly material used initially for bags and later for duffle coats, made popular by the British Royal Navy. In the 15th century, duffel was produced here and exported all over Europe. The route continues past Mortsel and Berchem. For 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. Finish your day in Antwerp, a city with a long beer tradition and countless cafes. Discover the beautiful Old Town or shop for antiques and curios, vintage fashion or diamonds.

For most of today the River Scheldt will show you the way. Near Kruibeke, you will find Wissekerk Castle. In the 10th century this was a so-called water castle and part of the defense line of Antwerp along the River. A little further on, cross the Scheldt by ferry then pedal along the dike to De Zilverreiger, a regional museum depicting local trades and crafts: basket weaving, river fishery, cooperage (barrel making), flax processing and clog making. End the day in Dendermonde with its impressive Town Hall & Belfry. After checking in to your hotel, take some time to visit the Church of Our Lady boasting a baptismal font from the 11th century.

You will soon be back on the Scheldt river banks, cycling past a string of Flemish villages and towns. Laarne Castle is a great place for a break before continuing to Ghent, whose Old Town is like an open-air museum and UNESCO listed Creative City of Music. The thriving music scene includes concerts, festivals, music institutions, the carillon, students of music having a singsong on the quays… music is everywhere. After dark the ambience is magical, thanks to the town’s ingenious lighting plan.

Today you head west and discover the rural Meetjesland region, a cycling paradise with woods, meadows and fields. It is an easy ride through the flat landscape to Eeklo, a small town known for its many sculptures. Continue through the Het Leen and Drongengoed forests. In the evening, put your feet up in Maldegem (or subject to availability in Lembeke).

Yet another lovely route through the flat Flemish countryside. After Maldegem you will pass some quiet villages including Knesselare, Maria-Aalter and Moerbrugge. On the last stretch, follow the Ghent-Bruges canal which dates from the 14th century and is one of the oldest in the country. This green corridor, together with its towpath verges, provides habitat vital to preserving biodiversity. Your destination is Bruges, a jewel of medieval facades, cobbled lanes and a fairy-tale atmosphere. With most of its medieval architecture intact, there is a sense of times gone by when the town was at the centre of the European wool and cloth trade. After checking in to your hotel, we recommend heading to the Markt for some delicious waffles, chocolates or beer.