Along the Demer: umbilical cord between Brabant and Limburg

Cycling from Aarschot to Hasselt with the Demer as a common thread. The Demer serves as the umbilical cord between Brabant and Limburg. Along this Demer, you cycle through nature and culture.

From Aarschot station to Hasselt station, allowing you to cycle 60 km and return by train & bike. The route is part of a much longer journey from Ketsingen near Tongeren, the source of the Demer, to Rumst, where the Dijle and Nete converge in the Rupel.

The route runs as much as possible along nature, sometimes along unpaved yet bike-friendly roads, and touches on various nature reserves. It also passes through towns with Demer Gothic architecture: Aarschot, Langdorp, Testelt, Zichem, Diest. In Diest, you can make a stop for a longer visit. You can explore Hasselt thoroughly before taking the train back to Aarschot.

A selection of the nature reserves: the Demerbroeken, Webbekoms Broek, Schulens Broek, Thiewinkel, and Groene Delle, Herkenrode. Each of these areas is worth a longer visit, but at least you can get a taste of these green Demer areas.