Hello!

In the end of summer, I will be travelling by bicycle through NL, Belgium, France etc on my way towards Portugal.

My route brings me to Dordrecht in NL and I am looking to go roughly along the pink or red route. After googling about highlights in Belgium, it seems like many of the best places are either in the west or east of Belgium. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, I really don't have the time for that detour.

Therefore I'd really appreciate some tips on places to visit or see along these routes so I can decide which one I'll opt for.

I really enjoy culture, nature & wildlife, historical places, castles, small towns etc. If possible, I'd like to avoid all bigger cities.

Really appreciate your help!
Thanks a lot!

by Philosofen

13 comments

  1. If you like medieval small town, you should pass by Thuin following the Hallage (the road for cyclists and pedestrian only) which follows the Sambre river. There are many beautiful sights in Thuin and several things to visit.

  2. Mind the Scheldt, there aren’t that many places to cross it until you’re way further from the Netherlands (looking at pink). You will not be dodging Antwerpen. Pink also passes about precisely where I am in Wallonia, which is kind of nowhere. It then goes to a part of France I’ve been told is very nice, Condé.

    Red will suddenly get very hilly past Charleroi. Although these will be very nice looking places. Although again, there are castles and stuff a bit everywhere.

    If you’re scared of cycling onto roads, I’d look that up. Cycle paths get way rarer once in Wallonia.

  4. I’ve cycled this multiple times myself. [Fietsnet](https://www.fietsnet.be/routeplanner/default.aspx) is a network of cyclefriendly roads. It’s a Belgian invented network which has been copied in the Netherlands and the Dutch and Belgian network are linked.

    Dordrecht to Antwerp is nice region to cycle.

    Crossing Antwerp is not a problem with the fietsknopen. Lots of bikes in Antwerp anyway.

    There is a car free cycle path along the scheldt (only nature) from Antwerp to France.

    Antwerp to Ghent along the Scheldt is beautiful. You will not see one car between both cities. Stop in Dendermonde which is also nice.

    The Scheldt will bring you to the center of Ghent without any traffic.

    Ghent to Tournai is along the Scheldt is beautiful. Once again you will see NO cars. Take a break in Oudenaarde and Tournai, 2 very old cities. Especially Tournai is underestimated as an medieval town.

    This way you will have crossed Belgium and visited 5 old cities while being the whole time on a cycle path without any cars. The Scheldt itself is beautiful.

    Do NOT take the red road.

  7. Good thing is you will be in nature the whole time. If you want to avoid cities just do not stop and keep on following the river.

  8. The Sambre is nice. The part between Leuven and Charleroi is only ok if it’s Ravel and I don’t think this is Ravel (but I’m not sure). The part between Leuven and Sambre without Ravel is hell. I would take the Ravel to Namur and then along the Sambre. But even then the pink road is better.

  9. We’ve done something along the lines of the pink trajectory. With kids, so relatively short stages (max 40-50k).

    The trajectory is along the Schelde, roughly. Obvious cities to visit: antwerp, Dendermonde, Ghent, Oudenaarde, tournai. Further on in France Douai is actually nice.

    So what i would do is cross the border at essen, cycle across the Kalmthoutse heide all the way to Brasschaat. Then along the Canal to antwerp. Fietsostrade to the South of the city, to pick up the tow path along the Schelde. Follow the river all the way to Oudenaarde, stopping in Dendermonde and/or Ghent. From Oudenaarde you can take a shortcut over the kluisberg (and you can do the Koppenberg on your way there) The (offroad) climb through the woods is nice. The descent(s) on the wallonian side are even better. North of tournai you can go up the mint Saint guibert for good views. Then down to tournai itself.

    From tournai to Douai you can pick up the cobblestones of paris-roubaix. Camphin-en-pevele and Carrefour de l’arbre are basically right across the border. And mons-en-pevele isn’t that much further.

  10. Well, general Modal I definitely would suggest through the ardennes the French will not expect your arrival

  11. Ask the Germans, they’re pretty experienced at this sort of stuff.

  12. Hello, this comment has nothing to do with your content. I just wanted to say, after looking at too many war maps, when I first looked at your map, I thought your arrows were ballistic missile routes. Have a great night.

  13. Use the fietsenknooppunt network to have cycle friendly route.

    Use de ‘fietsostrades’ if you want to go faster straighter. (Often along railway tracks or canals).

    Cycle along rivers and streams if you like nature and meandering.

Comments are closed.