Beautiful Scheldt

This bike ride along the water also takes you past a lot of culture: the grave of Emile Verhaeren and regional museum De Zilverreiger in Weert, for example. Regular breaks are perfect, because you will pass dozens of cafes and taverns.

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Text and photos Stan Verelst
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The route
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With the church of Breendonk on your left you cycle to KP 84. RA through the Beenhouwerstraat, direction KP 85. At the T-junction again RA over a separate cycle path to KP 85. LA, direction KP 88, on a narrow asphalt road between the fields. At the end LA and at the first intersection RA follow the Hogedreef until a priority road. RA and immediately after, just before the nameplate of Breendonk LA Kruisbroeken in. ● Cycle between the fields to the T-junction. RA through the Patattestraat. Then turn onto first street LA. You cycle through Koevoetmolen and cross the Kleine Molenbeek. The Koevoetmolen is on this stream, but you don't get to see it. Continue cycling to Speelbos Schierbossen. Ignore a road on the right and cycle RD through the Marselaerdreef along the edge of the forest, a bit through the forest and further between the fields.

At the junction RA over the Grote Molenbeek and LA further over the Kruisheide, a narrow asphalt road between two canals, winding until kp 88 on the Lippelostraat. Cross it with a left-right nod and cycle RD, towards KP 66, through a nice lane. Turn a little further into RA neighborhood road 58 and follow it through the Lippelobos. At the end, you turn with the road LA and you come to a fork.

Geographical centre of Flanders
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If you want to see the geographical center of Flanders (1), follow Biesten RA. 200 m further is a sober monument.

Then return, because our tour goes at the junction LA through Driehuizen between fields and meadows. At the agglomeration sign of Opdorp you ignore a road on the left and continue cycling RD through the Vekenstraat. Ignore the side streets and cycle further through the agricultural landscape to the center of Opdorp. After the Sint-Jozefschool you ignore a street on the left and at the small roundabout with Adia's Tapas Bar on the right turn LA, direction Steenhuffel. Follow this cobblestone track to the church of Opdorp (1732). RA through the street with one-way traffic, but that does not apply to cyclists.

You cycle past an old village pump, a beautiful chapel and café Drytoren to KP 66. LA towards KP 11, past restaurant De Poort van Cyriel and then RA Sluis, a winding road for agricultural traffic. At the T-junction RA, just over the busy N 17 and just before the name plate Sint-Amands - Provincie Antwerpen, LA into the Kuitegemstraat until kp 11. RD towards FP 10. Cross a railway and continue cycling to the T-junction. DRAWER. Ignore the side streets and cycle past the Kuitegemhoeve to the junction with the Kuitegem chapel. There RA up to KP 10, on the Scheldedijk. RA towards FP 67. Follow the Scheldt downstream, past a picnic area and tavern De Amandus. Then you get a nice view of Sint-Amands on the Scheldt bend. On the dike are some poems and the statue of the Ferryman, who looks at Mariekerke. Just next to it is the foot ferry and you are on KP 67. RD, direction FP 76.

Maria bewaert all that vaert
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Cross the Quay and cycle past the church and the taverns Emile V. and De Veerman. You will pass the grave of poet Emile Verhaeren (2), restaurant Histoire d'O and further between the salt marshes and Mariekerke. Just before you reach the square with the church of Mariekerke, on the right in a garden is the Mariekerkse Jol, the 124 A – Petrus, a replica of a typical Mariekerk fishing boat.

On KP 76, at the foot ferry of Mariekerke, RD direction KP 08. You cycle along the football fields of FC Mariekerke and then arrive at an upright boat on the dike, which is furnished as a chapel. 'Maria bewaert al die vaert' is written on it. On the other side of the dike is the café Koningsrek, near Zates, known as a checkpoint on the Dodentocht of Bornem and café for 180 years. The towpath makes a big bend and you cycle past tavern 't Scheldezicht. In front of the Scheldt salt marshes, the towpath makes a large right-left turn and you arrive at KP 08. RA direction KP 07 and at the T-junction LA to the crossroads at the church of Branst. RD and at the crossroads after the church, on KP 07, LA towards KP 04 and Weert. After the last houses of Branst you cycle on a cycle path behind hedges. At the fork, keep right and continue following the bike path through a landscape of Canada poplars. You will pass the statue of the chicken feeder, the chapel of Our Lady of Assistance, which is located in the back, the agglomeration sign of Weert and arrive at the Slijkneuzenplein with the church and tavern Oud Gemeentehuis on KP 04. On the left is the regional museum De Zilverreiger (3), which is located in the former village school.

Magnificent view of Temse
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Our tour goes RD towards KP 03. You cycle past tavern 't Veerhuis and some picturesque houses, the Oude Schelde and through the forest. Further on you get a nice view of the castle of Marnix van Sint-Aldegonde (4). Continue cycling to the fork at the St. Therese's Chapel. RA along the end of the agglomeration sign of Weert on a cycle path behind concrete blocks to KP 03. RD towards KP 02. On the right is restaurant 't Sas, located at a saspoort on the Oude Schelde. Just before the Rijksweg (N16) LA and where you can cycle up the Scheldt bridge to Temse and where you have a magnificent view of the Scheldt and Temse, you dive RA under the N16 and continue cycling over the Scheldedijk along the Buitenlandpolder to KP 02. RD towards KP 01.

You cycle away from the Scheldt, past a building with a footbridge to the Scheldedijk. This used to be a drinking establishment. Cycle back to the Scheldt and past hunting pavilion De Notelaer (5). A little further on you reach KP 01. RA direction KP 36 through the Notelaerdreef to the T-junction at the Domein d'Ursel.

RA along Estaminet In d'Ouwe Kroon, the park of castle d'Ursel and talk café De Messinc. Just before the church of Hingene, you turn LA onto the castle grounds. At the first crossroads you will see the castle d'Ursel (6) on the left. RA out of the domain and RD next to tavern Lindehof into the 'drift'. At the roundabout LA into the Groenstraat, past football fields and the end agglomeration sign of Hingene. Ignore the side roads and cycle along the football field of Volharding Wintam-Eikenvliet.

Roundabout with brew kettles
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Where it goes left before KP 36 through the Paardenstraat, you just cycle RD through the Eikendreef on the cycle path behind the hedges. You ignore the detour along Wintam. Continue cycling to the centre of Eikevliet. Ignore the side roads, cycle past the church, leave the road to Puurs on the right, cross the Vliet and cycle on KP 36 RD, direction KP 37. After that, turn RA into a residential yard. It turns into a narrow asphalt path on an inner dike. A little further on you descend and continue cycling next to the inner dike.

The road will be wider, but has been made car-free with a concrete block. At the end RA on the bike path across the street. Then cycle left into vijverstraat. Cross the railway and continue cycling to the intersection with the chapel of Coolhem and KP 37. RD towards FP 82.

Cycle next to the domain of the Hof van Coolhem (brasserie) to the railway. LA to the first level crossing on FP 82. RA along the cycle path along an SME zone to a roundabout. RD second exit. At the end of the street you cross RD a priority road and then you dive through a tunnel under the Rijksweg (N 16). On the other side RD to the T-junction. LA to the roundabout with the brew kettles. Do not cycle around the roundabout, but stay on the red cycle path on your side and cross the busy RA road immediately after the roundabout via the crossing for cyclists and pedestrians. Cycle across the street LA until your RA can turn into the Schaafstraat. Follow that RD to the church of Breendonk.