Spring tour along Dender and Scheldt

The picturesque village of Appels aan de Schelde, a stone's throw from Dendermonde, is the start and end point of this tour in a loop of 38 km. Twice you cross the Scheldt by foot ferry, in Schellebelle and Berlare-Appels. Between the two springs you follow the dikes along the Scheldt. But the Dender is also extensively on the program. You follow this river, which owes its name to the Celts, from Oudegem to Gijzegem.

1. Appointment at the St. Apollonia Church of Apples (V). You leave via the Vrijstraat between the Gildenhuis and the church, direction Schoonaarde. Then take the first street on the right, Stuifstraat, and follow it until the N416. Cross over and cycle into the Hofstraat. Ignore side roads, cross the railway and continue pedaling to the church of Oudegem. At this busy intersection you have to turn left. Where the traffic road bends to the left, you cycle straight ahead into the Varenbergstraat, until you reach the Dender. The Dender got its name from the Celts (5th-3rd centuries BC), who called the river 'Tanara' or 'Tanera', which means the 'bubbly' or the 'turbulent'. Usually the Dender is quiet, but it can change in a short time into the fastest flowing river in Flanders. Follow the Dender to the right, so upstream, past a picnic area and past the lock (1) of Denderbelle. Then you get a nice view of Mespelare with its beautiful Romanesque church tower from the 12th century. Some strips along the Dender are flanked by reed beds and the agricultural landscape along the river is beautiful and soothing. On the right is an old Denderarm.
2. You drive under the Wieze bridge in Gijzegem. Further on, on the other side, is the unloading quay of a concrete company. A little further, at an Aquafin pumping station, you leave the dike, over the Molenbeek, and cycle into the Denderweg. Now you can follow the signs of the Giant Route for a long time, they lead you effortlessly into the center of Gijzegem. At the first two intersections go straight ahead and then diagonally left a car-free path until the traffic lights. Turn left and 30 m further, at a second traffic light, turn right, into a narrow street. Past a school and at a chapel turn left into the IJsbroekstraat. Turn right into the first street and meander along the narrow path along a playground to the Damkouterbaan. Follow it to the right, cross a stream and then follow the old railway bed to the left. You cross two streets and continue cycling until you can turn right at the next intersection on a wide concrete road to a T-junction. Turn left, then right and then left into Zakstraat. Past the last houses further between fields and meadows on a dirt road (only agricultural vehicles), fortunately not too long. Turn right at the T-junction. You now cycle along a street with pavers into a residential area that belongs to the agglomeration of Hofstade. The vowels lead you to the left into the Noenstraat. Ignore a side road on the left and drive past a large farm with a semi-open stable. In a gentle bend you continue to follow the Giant Route to the right. You now cycle along a narrow concrete road with limited traffic in the direction of a large white castle-like building. Just before that, turn right and then left, past a tall orchard to a T-junction. On the left, on the corner, is de Jaeger. Turn right, again through civilization and then between fields and meadows. Ignore the unpaved Bresillestraat on the right and cycle straight ahead into Geesthoekrede at the intersection. After the garden hedges you cycle through fields and meadows on a narrow asphalt road. At the quadrangle continue straight until a T-junction. Turn right, on a wide concrete road.
3. At a large St. Joseph's Chapel on the left, make a big left turn with the road and drive past the place name sign of Wichelen. Then ignore the Langestraat on the right and then pay attention! The Giant Route then turns right into the Rimeirweg. Our tour goes straight ahead and turns 100 m further left into Rimeir. Ignore side roads and cycle along this quiet road with loose buildings to the end. Now follow Bogaert to the left, over a dotted line cycle path to the T-junction. Here you turn right, direction Wichelen-centrum. Follow Elsbroek to the N442. Just turn right and 50 m further left into the Watermolenweg. First you cycle between the houses, then you descend through an open landscape to the Molenbeek. Stop on the bridge and you will see what remains of the water mill (2). Next to it is the authentic American Steakhouse The Boondocks. Keep following the Watermolenweg until the end. Right. Ignore side roads and cycle past the agglomeration sign of Bruinbeke, municipal school de Belhamel and the Sint-Jozefskapel. Cross the intersection here and continue cycling through the Bruinbekestraat. Ignore all side roads and continue cycling until you can just cross the railway, left into the Oostakkerstraat. At the end, follow the Hoekstraat to the right. At the first intersection go straight ahead. You now follow the Hekkergemstraat straight ahead until the next quadrangle. Just before it is a house on the left with a curiously decorated façade.
4. Turn right, over vowels to the village square of Schellebelle. Cross the Hoogstraat and cycle next to tavern-parish house 't Veer with sun terrace to the ferry (3). The tavern (restored in 1956) used to be a tavern with ferry house, farm, brewery and four-scissors house. Ring the bell and let yourself be transferred. On the other side you follow the Scheldedijk to the right, so downstream. The Scheldedijk is unpaved here, but easy to drive. On the left a landscape of lakes. Cycle under the Uitbergenbrug and you will ride on asphalt again. There will be a road next to your path, but you will remain protected by a border stone and a hedge. Keep following the Scheldedijk and ignore side paths and side dikes. On the other side is Wichelen. You bolt past Paardeweide, a flood zone with a risk of floating debris, a sign warns. Then you cycle along 't Oud Brughuys and under the Schoonaardebrug. For a moment you have to go off the dike, then back on, towards Dendermonde. On the other side is Schoonaarde. Past the pumping station of Berlare you come to the Brede Schoren and cycle away from the Scheldt and then back. De Brede Schoren is the first salt marsh area, downstream Ghent. On the left is a wetland nature reserve. Continue cycling to the foot ferry Berlare-Appels (4), at tavern 't Veerhuis. You transfer via an adventurous jetty, which also appeared in the Flemish film Mira from 1975. Transfer every hour and half hour. Cycle across the street into the Hoofdstraat and keep right at the junction with the Schipperskapel. You follow an old Scheldt arm for a while and then turn left and continue to the church.