Little Brabant Cycle Node Route

This route is a sequence of junctions that allows you to enjoy a nice ride through the Klein-Brabant region.
We comfortably start from Temse, which is located on the N16, where you can find a large parking lot at Scheldekaai, but you can also perfectly start from other places along this route, such as Boom on the A12. Additionally, you can deviate from your route or make shortcuts at any time, depending on your wishes, the weather conditions, etc.

Here are the junctions starting from Temse:
75-76-77-91-06-08-07-89-13-80-81-85-84-86-39-01-38-
28-29-90-34-30-70-71-72-86-74-75

From Temse, we travel through the grounds of the former Boelwerf, where a lonely crane still testifies to the past glory years. Over the dry dock, now surrounded by warehouses, we reach Dammstrasse towards the ferry from Tielrode over the Durme. At low tide, this can be very steep, so the detour via junctions 79, 90, and 78 is hardly more than 2 km, and you cross the Durme via the Mira Bridge, known from the film of the same name with Willeke Van Ammelrooy.

At Drie Goten, junction 91, we take the ferry over the Scheldt, its piers newly constructed in 2015. We follow the Scheldedamm for a bit and then head inland at junction 08 along beautiful rural roads, passing the back side of the Fort of Bornem at the height of junction 89. From junction 13, we follow the old railway line 52, where now an old steam train occasionally runs. Here too, you pass a fort that was used in the World Wars and now serves as a (children's) playground.

We cross Scheeveld Street and then turn into the Tekbroek nature reserve towards junction 81. You also ride around the Fort of Liezele, which today serves as a museum. A visit is definitely worthwhile. Via junction 85, you reach junction 84, the Moortgat Brewery in Breendonk, world famous for its beer Duvel. You can also pay a visit here and try their various beer varieties.

We cross the A12 and then arrive at junction 86 in Tisselt, where the bridge over the canal was temporarily out of service in 2014 due to a fallen counterweight. We follow the canal towards Willebroek and cross it at junction 39 over "the Bridge of Sighs," which got this nickname from the countless cyclists who waited for many hours before the raised bridge. With the construction of the ring around Willebroek, this problem was resolved.

At junction 1, we pass the Bloso Water Sports Center Hazewinkel, an artificial water sports track for, among other things, rowing competitions. We continue through Klein-Willebroek (junction 38), with its yacht harbor and the recently restored lock, so you are immediately at the Rupel. Here you also take the ferry to Boom (junction 28) or you can briefly ride along the dam and take the bridge over the Rupel via the N177 to reach junction 29.

From here, you ride through the former brickworks of Boom and Niel, where various museums about this craft can still be visited. You follow the Rupel downstream, passing the Tolhuis at the junction, which still serves as a gastronomic establishment. There is also a ferry service here, so you may shorten the distance, but we continue our way past the former power plant and the wind farm. Via junction 30, you follow the Scheldt and pass the beautiful Sint-Bernardus Abbey on the right. At junction 70, we take the ferry over the Scheldt for the last time and then arrive at junction 71 in Bazel, by the Castle of Wissekerke.

Just before junction 86, you ride through Rupelmonde, the birthplace of Mercator, who received a statue located near the church. By the way, you will see several metal plaques on the ground indicating the meridians of this location. From here, you follow a quiet, winding dam towards Temse, the starting point of the route. Enjoy your cycling!