It is well known that the province of Limburg has different geological areas. The Maasland, Haspengouw and the Limburgse Kempen were already discussed. It gets really interesting in the transition areas. That is the case if you cross the region around Bilzen. Here you get both the diffuse transition from dry to humid Haspengouw and the sharper border between Kempen and Haspengouw that is formed by the Demer. They have one thing in common: the landscape slopes, hills and slopes.

1. We leave at the Landcommanderij van Alden Biesen in Rijkhoven. There is plenty of parking space, a tourist information service, bicycle rental, you are immediately on the cycle route network and it is a stone's throw from Bilzen and the SNCB station (where you can also rent bicycles). You cycle to cycle junction 85. The rising Kasteelstraat takes you directly to Bilzen via the descending Reekstraat and the Biezenweg. Left and right you cycle past orchards where the apples and pears hang tantalizing over the hedges. On the Borreberg is a watchtower where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Demerstadje and surroundings. Along a hollow road that later turns into a high dike you cross the Demer for the first time. The river here is barely three meters wide and flows a few meters lower through a park. Immediately after this you cycle into Bilzen. The route runs over the Markt with the former town hall - now tourist office - and the Saint Maurice Church. Behind the church is the statue of Camille Huysmans (1871 – 1968). The socialist leader - once mayor of Antwerp - is somewhat orphaned, he apparently would have liked a better place.
2. Now you cycle to the junction 84 (attention, you reach a T- junction, where you can already choose on the right for junction 104 that you will need later. However, continue to follow junction 84 on the left), then continue to 104-69-567-64-532-62 and 65. You leave the center of Bilzen through the Genutstraat. At the second intersection, cross diagonally to the right in the Hasseltsepoort which turns into the Spurkerweg. This way you get into an open meadow landscape. Over a higher railway embankment you cycle for the second time over the Demer. The railway is only used for freight transport, including for Ford Genk. At the third railway bridge you cycle to the right, just left and then right again. Now you are on the Road to Diepenbeek. At the intersection you cycle left into the Genkerbaan and at the next intersection you cycle right onto the Taunusweg. At the end of the Taunusweg you come to the Bilzerweg where you turn left to the Albert Canal and towards Zutendaal. In the distance, the cooling towers of the Genk power plant tower high above the landscape. Over the Albert Canal you cycle the second road on the right, this is the Watermolenweg. Then follow on the left through the Broekmolenweg. Car-free roads, vast conifer forest, shrub heath, the Roelerheide and the Gellikerheide are now the main ingredients of our trip through Zutendaal to Gellik. Some parts look like green tunnels where only a splash of sunlight comes through here and there, sometimes interrupted by a view of a steep piece of slope forest or a tinny waterhole. In the village bowl of Gellik you have cycled back into civilization. On the church square you can relax on a terrace with a drink and a dry drink from the effort made.
3. Now cycle over junctions 66, 67 and 68 back to the starting point. In Gellik you cycle towards Eigenbilzen. You cycle out of the small village via the Wijerdijk. At the crossroads over the bridge of the Albert Canal you cycle right to Eigenbilzen where you then take the direction Hoelbeek. Just outside the village of Eigenbilzen, a dirt road takes you into the valley of the Krombeek and past the nature reserve De Hoefaert. In Hoelbeek you can make a small detour to visit the 'Site Jonckholt'. The ruins of the knight's castle are well hidden and completely deserted in an overgrown corner of the municipality. The castle walls have been rebuilt over the entire perimeter to about one meter. The corner towers are clearly recognizable, the outlines of the buildings within the castle are indicated by wooden poles. The hofgracht is partly landed and overgrown with aquatic plants. After Hoelbeek follow Waltwilder and Sint-Martenslinde. Here and there, between the square farms, you can still discover gems of half-timbered construction. The villages string together like a paternoster. If you cycle into the long ascending notelarendreef you can still add Rijkhoven. At the end of the drive you cycle through the gatehouse - the former main entrance - into the commandery. Time for a welcome refreshment on the terrace of the Apostle House