Stations Duffel Weerde via natural watercourses and ferry B20 Schelle-Wintam (48km)

Stations Duffel Weerde via natural watercourses and ferry B20 Schelle-Wintam (at the mouth Rupel in Scheldt): 48km (+500m ferry).

For 99% via towpaths (car-free and flat) and through a lot of natural beauty.

NOTE for handbikers: The stretch from the Oude Wintamsluis (25km to 27km) is narrow and unpaved and therefore not suitable for handbike! Also the last 300m to Weerde station is a passage with steps. For both passages, the handbiker better takes the normal road 'straight' instead of taking a bend in the course. Netedijk, Rupeldijk and Zennedijk are paved. From Hombeek, the Zennedijk is firmly paved with dolomite, as is the park in Duffel center on the Nete. The crossing under the railway line along the Senne in Hombeek can also be quite frightening at spring tide or very high water level because there is easily 40cm of water in the narrow passage.

Rivers followed: Nete right bank in Duffel, then left bank to Walem, from Walem right bank Nete, Netestuary Rupel, Rupel right bank, Rupel estuary Scheldt, ferry over Rupel and lock complex canal Brussels Charleroi in Scheldt in Wintam, Rupel left bank, old sea lock mouth canal Brussels Charleroi in Rupel (Klein Willebroek), Rupel, Dijle, Zennegat (mouth Dijle, Canal Leuven and Zenne; recent bicycle bridge to Zennegat), Zenne right bank to Leest, via separate bicycle bridge in Leest Zenne left bank to Weerde.

Due to tidal action, the bicycle crossing under the railway line in Hombeek on the Eglegem pond can be half a meter below the Zennewater: wonderful experience!

Back to your starting point? Take the train when you're tired. Or follow a nice road along the railway line 25 Brussels-Antwerp: https://www.routeyou.com/route/view/412415/fietsroute-stations-weerde-duffel-via-spoorlijn-25.nl (16km), together 64km.