Thundering along the Molenbeek via water and windmills.

Two bicycle loops (possibly combinable) lead you past four windmills, six water mills and some mill relics. In the valley of the Dender on the edge of the Flemish Ardennes are Erpe-Mere and Herzele, two of the largest Flemish mill municipalities. Recently, two of the windmills, Kruiskoutermolen (three attics), and Buysesmolen were restored. Herzele now owns three working windmills. Two wooden stake mills and a stone seat crawler with typical onion hood. On the territory of Erpe-Mere there are nine different watermills Two different streams named Molenbeek cross this area. Along both these streams we find many water mills and mill remnants. The route passes some statues by sculptor Herman De Somer: Saint Martin and a statue of the sopeter. There are three different nature reserves along the route: Den Dotter, Het Duivenbos and Honegem-Solegem-St. Apollonia. Aalst, city of carnival, pies, onion soup, but also of Daens, Louis Paul Boon, Dirk Martens, Valerius De Saedeleer and Pieter Coecke is definitely worth a visit.
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Loop 1 Watermills in Den Dotter, windmills in Herzele

Loop 1 starts at Watermolen Te Broeck: about 43 km of cycling pleasure towards the sources of the Molenbeek. Drive via the Kruiskoutermolen in the direction of Haaltert. Follow in the Schoolstraat, turn left into Oostdorpstraat and immediately turn right into the Kapittelstraat until you reach the former location of the Haaltertse Topmolen. From here we continue to follow the cycling junctions, first towards Sint-Antelinks through the Vondelen in Denderhoutem, where you get beautiful views of the Dender valley. In Sint-Antelinks you visit Buysesmolen and look out over the land of Aalst and Geraardsbergen from the orientation table behind the church. Sint Lievens Esse can be reached along the Duivenbos, where the local brewery awaits you. On the border of Sint-Lievens, Esse and Herzele, the molenbeek is still very narrow. Be sure to visit the windmills Ter Rijst and Te Rullegem. You then descend to the molenbeek valley and drive through Den Dotter past the Engelswatermolen and the watermill De Rat to Gotegem. There you will find another water mill and an old baking oven along the road.
Cycle junctions: Start at 63 - go to 83 - 82 - 87 - 88 - 45 - 43 - 39 - 37 - 33 - 31 - 26 - 27 - 32 - 34 - 40 - 42 - 41 - 63.
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Loop 2 The mill stream from Erpe-Mere to its mouth
Loop 2 starts at Watermolen Te Broeck: about 45 km of cycling fun towards the mouth of the Molenbeek. Immediately descend to the Molenbeek via the Beekstraat and drive towards Bambrugge, Vlekkem and Ottergem where you will find the Watermeulen, on a second, other Molenbeek that flows through Erpe-Mere towards the Scheldt in Wichelen. We return via Erondegem and Leekouter to the Erpse Cottemmolen and the Molenbeek that we trusted. Continue to Hofstade for the last watermill (Overmolen) on the stream before it throws itself into the Dender via its new mouth at Hofstade. Via an old railway bed you drive to Gijzegem to the former mouth of this stream. From there you follow the towpath between the Oude and Nieuwe Dender to Aalst. Be sure to visit the Grote Markt with its UNESCO-listed Belfry, Old Alderman's House, and 't Gasthuys (city museum). In this museum a painting is exhibited depicting the old mills along the Dender. In the Valerius De Saedeleerzaal you will find some paintings on which the master brushed windmills. Continue past the Stadspark, nature reserve Osbroek, and the urban cemetery (Daens, De Saedeleer, Boon) to the only existing windmill in Aalst. (Van Mossevelde mill is converted into a brasserie). Take a look at one last watermill near Erpe village (Van der Biest mill), and pedal on to the Kruiskoutermolen in the field of view of the end point. Cycle junctions: Start at 63 - 70 - 69 - 58 - 55 - 17 - 24 - 26 - 25 - 22 - 29 - 28 - 34 - 35 - 33 - 23 - 20 - 63.
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Finish at your departure point, at the watermill Te Broek and 't Hofschuurke where delicious waffles baked on the Leuven stew await you. (Every first Sunday afternoon of the month).