Via the junctions through the Waasland

A tour that starts in Moerbeke, not long ago the nerve center of Flemish sugar beet cultivation. Since the factory recently closed its doors and no more beets are supplied, the crowds have disappeared. You can certainly enjoy peace and quiet in the Waasland. At the end of this tour you cycle through domain Puyenbroek in Wachtebeke. A wonderfully green domain where you can practice a lot of other recreation besides cycling. Also ideal to finish with a snack and drink.

1. Our tour starts at the Lindenplaats in Moerbeke-Waas. With the town hall on your right, you start, direction junction 78. Cycle down the residential area and turn right with the street. At the end turn left and immediately right, Heidestraat, 50 m to junction 78. Now follow the old railway bed to the right, towards junction 64, through a red and white closure. You cross a street near a school and continue cycling between sports fields. You cross a second street and just past the umpteenth rest bench with goosenecks you come to another cross road. Turn left and at the T-junction turn right. Just past veterinary clinic De Bosdreef turn left, through a drift of canada poplars between fields and meadows. Ignore a road on the right and you can read a poem by Anton van Wilderode. In the forest you can see a picnic area and a second poem by the poet in a bend opposite a farm. At the end of the road you follow a narrow concrete road to the left, out of the forest and further between the fields.
2. At junction 64 turn left, direction 65, on a dirt road along the edge of the forest with fields and meadows on the left. On a T, with a dirt road on the right, turn left onto a concrete road, Zandberg. Keep following it until first left Dongendreef RD (no indication, but in other direction), next intersection on the left Kruisstraat (no picture) and then from first roundabout no indication to second roundabout. And cycle via the Ledestraat to the second roundabout. Continue cycling to junction 65 and go straight ahead, direction 66. Cross the Watergang of the Moerbekepolder, ignore the Oude Zeedijk on the right and follow the separate cycle path. This is a meter lower than the roadway, actually also an inner dike, trimmed with canada poplars. In a bend, the bike path splits. Keep to the left here.
3. Creek area You cycle past the Grote Kreek and turn left just past café Polderhuis and restaurant De Rode Sluis into the Polderstraat. Behind the fields is the Great Creek to your left. After a while you cycle along the southernmost tip and you see two more beautiful creeks on the right. Continue through an agricultural landscape, over a narrow cobblestone road with a narrow concrete strip on each side. At the T-junction, follow the Papdijk to the right. At junction 66 straight ahead, direction 82. A few hundred meters further left into Bovenhoek. On the right loose buildings, on the left meadows and fields.
4. Continue straight to the centre of Overslag. Leave the church on the right and turn left on the T and immediately after that turn right into the Overslagdijk. Ignore the street on the right, at border post 300, and continue cycling along the wide concrete road, almost on the border. Ignore all side roads until you can turn right in a bend, towards junction 82. Opposite border post 301, turn left, on a narrow concrete road with limited traffic. Enjoy the beautiful views and, after a bend, turn left behind the reeds, notice the Sint-Elooiskreek. A little further on, turn left and cross the creek. After a farm you come to a T and there you turn left. This narrow path on Belgian territory runs parallel to a road on Dutch territory, with a narrow field in between. After a futuristic building, both roads come together. Past the Sint-Elooiskreek you reach junction 82: Oudenburgsluis. Turn left, direction 69, first cross the bridge, although this is not immediately clear at the signage.
5. Along Langelede and Moervaart You now cycle along the Langelede for a long time, leaving some picturesque bridges behind. At junction 69 continue straight towards 70 until you cross the Langelede just before the motorway, then cross the bridge under the E34 and back over the Langelede to 70. Continue straight along the Langlede direction. At a chapel, the concrete road turns left. Continue straight ahead on the Langelede. You cycle between poles, which keep the path car-free, and cross a railway with a bridge on the right. A little further on it turns left, through a residential area. At the end of the Bloemenweg turn right, until you reach the N449. Cross it carefully and follow Kerkstraat to the end. The church of Wachtebeke is in front of you, but you cycle right until you come to the Langelede again. Left. At the pumping station and junction 89, change banks and cycle towards 97. A little further on, the Langelede flows into the Moervaart. Here are a number of pleasure boats on shore. Just keep cycling straight ahead 'along the water'. After a while, the paved road turns into two concrete strips with a 'central reservation' of grass. The Moervaart winds through a beautiful agricultural landscape, far from all the hustle and bustle. On the left, the Zuidlede flows into it. On the other side you can also see the Sint-Bavo's Hoeve (catering) and the church of Mendonk. The path now becomes rougher and you keep right at the fork. On the left you see a bridge over the Moervaart. You cycle along a 'dead' side arm of the Moervaart and arrive in the Barkstraat. Turn left, the street is now called Spanjeveerstraat and you follow it until junction 97. Turn left, towards 96, and get going for the only climb of this tour. Cycle via the Spanjeveerbrug (the Bailey bridge you saw just now) over the Moervaart. Now you can have a good time. Keep left at the fork and you will cycle into Mendonk. Opposite the church is a pillory from 1775. You can stop in the Sint-Bavo's Hoeve (with terrace overlooking the Moervaart). At junction 96 continue straight ahead, direction 84. Past a chapel, via a bridge over the Zuidlede and then you follow the river to the right. Then you turn left and follow a 2.5 km long, straight road. Along the way you will see the Groothof or Grote hofstede from the 19th century. Turn right at the T-junction.
6. Puyenbroeck Now follows a necessary section along the busy N449 on a narrow dotted cycle path. At the access road to the car parks of Provincial Domain Puyenbroeck you can turn left. Cross the busy road carefully and cycle to the exit of parking P1 of Puyenbroeck. The signage takes you to a pond. Turn right here. On the other side you see The Four Seasons, where you can go for a snack and a drink. Follow the dolomite path to a narrow asphalt road. Right. The road narrows and you continue cycling through a drift of canada poplars to the Zuidlede. Now follow the Zuidlededam to the left and ignore 5 bridges on the right. Just past an information board about the domain you come to a sixth bridge. Turn left here and follow the Santvoortdam. Then turn right into Puidonkdreef. The signage takes you to parking 2. Leave the car park and cycle from junction 84 towards 82. Where the road turns left, you cycle straight on the cobblestone road. It turns into a concrete road, to the Moervaart and junction 82. Follow the canal to the right, direction 79, past the Terwestbrug with tavern-restaurant De Brugge. A little further the site (with the remains?) of the former impressive (6). There is also a rusty railway lift bridge here. Continue to the Dambrug, cross them and take the Damstraat on the left, back to your starting point.