Railway bed line 58 Bruges-Maldegem-Eeklo

A semi-paved bike path runs through the Gemeene Weiden, which was built on the former route of the railway line 58 connecting Bruges-Maldegem-Eeklo. In 1863, the Permanent Deputation of West Flanders decided to regard the meadows as municipal sections, completely ignoring the rights of the leaseholders. The lands were immediately taken possession of and leased by the municipality. A portion was used to establish the railway line that also runs across the St. Trudoledeke, as seen on the 19th-century maps. This single-track line connected to the railway line from Ghent and was later extended to Bruges. The intention was to compete with the current line 50A Bruges - Ghent via Aalter, a line that at that time ran through sparsely populated areas. However, around the turn of the century, the line was downgraded to a local branch line. Together with the rise of the automobile, this led to the end of this railway line. In the 1960s, the line was abandoned and dismantled, after which the bed was partially converted into a recreational path. A part of the line is operated as a museum line by the Stoomcentrum Maldegem. The section that has been transformed into a bike path largely runs between extensive meadows, rows of deciduous trees, and hedgerows with, among others, linden, hawthorn, maple, and alder coppice.

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