Cycling along the ramparts of Dendermonde

Start of the route:

GROTE MARKT 1 Exit the Grote Markt via Kerkstraat, at the O-L-Vrouwekerk turn left into Prudens Van Duysestraat. Turn left at the end of this street, towards Sas.

SAS 2 Since the Middle Ages, a lock complex has regulated the water level of the Dender in the city. The locks also played a military role: by closing or opening them at the right moment, whole areas could be flooded.

BASTION IX 3 (casemate school) Bastion IX has remained relatively well preserved and is incorporated into the elementary school of the Óscar Romerocollege. During the Belgian period (2nd half 19th century), a cartridge factory was built on the square in front of the bastion, and 16 vaulted rooms were built in the earthen rampart of the bastion. These rooms are now used as bicycle storage, and classrooms are accommodated in the cartridge factory.

Cross the Old Dender via the footbridge and follow it to the right via Sint-Jorisgildedijk. Ride around the Brussels Forts and back along the New Quarter to Sint-Jorisgildedijk. (Possibility to shorten and skip this part)

BRUSSELSE FORTEN 4 (Bastion VIII) Bastions 7 and 8 have disappeared, but the associated lunette has been preserved. Here, you can still find several bunkers and emergency housing from WWI. Bastion VIII had to make way for the rich administrative center in the 1980s. The remains were protected in 2003 and transformed into a nature education center.

To the right, ride down Begijnhoflaan and then take Zuidlaan.

ARSENAAL 5 The bombproof arsenal on your left dates back to 1828 and is unique in Belgium. It has 5 halls on each floor. The building was used for the storage of artillery material and also housed a smithy on the ground floor.

Take the roundabout, then ride down Leopoldlaan, passing the Brussels gate and further bastion V, both on your right side.

BRUSSELSE POORT 6 The Neoclassical gate is largely built with sandstone, recovered from the demolition of the Affligem abbey. Originally, there were 2 guardhouses next to it, but the bombproof powder magazine on ravelin 5-6 behind the gate has been preserved.

BASTION V 7 Honky Tonk Jazz club The pentagonal bastion V also dates from the Dutch period and is well preserved. In the casemates, you can currently find youth house ZEB, jazz club Honky Tonk, and soon Citysounds. The Jazz Center was originally a laboratory where projectiles were filled with gunpowder. Initially, the laboratory was much larger, but it was adjusted twice.

Once past the Mechelse Poort, continue your way towards apartment building Amelinckx. Follow the bike path to the sign “swimming pool Olympos,” enter this road. Follow Kalendijk to the end.

KALENDIJK/STADSPARK 8 In the vicinity of Kalendijk, several remnants of fortifications can still be seen: the moat, of course, but also a retaining wall, a powder magazine,... Bastion 4 was situated here, but was demolished in the 1930s to build housing for the Rijkswacht. The powder magazine of bastion 4 was demolished in 2002. On lunette 4-5, the swimming pool Olympos was built.

Bike over the viaduct, once down take the first street on the right, this is Emanuel Hielstraat. Continue on this street, cross Van Langenhovestraat, and continue via Volkswelzijnstraat (do not turn with the street) going straight through this street and take the bike path to the Achthoek. At the end of Achthoek, cross Breestraat and enter Resedalaan. Stay right on this lane and take Moeskouterlaan. Take a left into Kruisstraat and cross Heirbaan, then continue straight through Rozebroekstraat. You will come to a T-junction. Here, turn left onto Fortstraat.

BATTERIJ 3 9 (Fort Rozenbroek) Battery 3 (1886), also called ‘t Fort van ‘t Roosbroek, was constructed south of the Dendermonde-Brussels railway line and secured the area of Dendermondsesteenweg, Heirbaan, and the Dendermonde-Brussels railway line. The underground vaulted spaces have been preserved in a fairly original state. The battery is surrounded by a meanwhile reconstructed crescent-shaped moat with one central bridge providing access to the main building with a central arched gate.
The battery was acquired in 2010 by the current owners who realized a beautiful home there. The Fort was perfectly restored and honored.

After pausing at Fort Rozenbroek, return the same way until you reach Heirbaan, passing the Delhaize car park, and turn right onto Haagstraat. Cross the railway through Korte Haagstraat. Go straight through at the intersection and take Smisstraat; at the end of it, turn right into Torrestraat, then across the railway take the first street on the left and keep right in Winningstraat. This street runs under the N41. Continue following Winningstraat until Driebek.

BATTERIJ 2 10 (Fort Driebek) Battery 2 (1880), also called ‘t Fort van de Langestraat, was located north of the Dendermonde-Mechelen railway line and secured the zone between Langestraat (the original heirbaan to Mechelen) and Mechelsesteenweg. In the well-preserved main building, there are eight vaulted rooms that were used as storage for artillery, projectiles, and gunpowder, as well as accommodation for soldiers and officers. Fort Driebek is now a private residence, so please do not enter the garden.

Pause here at Fort Driebek and then continue your way to Hoogveld. At Hoogveld, take the first street on the left, Geerstraat. Then turn left at the second street on the left, Schippersdijk. At the end of that, turn left into Wolvestraat until you reach Hoogveld, then take the street to the right at Hoogveld.

BATTERIJ 1 11 (Hoogveld 5) Battery 1 (1879), also called ‘t Fort van ‘t Keur, was established south of the important road from Dendermonde to Baasrode. It secured the area between the Schelde and Bosstraat. In the 1960s, with the development of the Hoogveld Industrial Area, the battery had to make way. Only the guardroom and sergeants’ residence remained preserved on the site of a breakyard and concrete plant (Derec, Hoogveld nr. 5).

Follow the road to the roundabout with Mechelsesteenweg and turn right onto Baasrodestraat, then take the first street diagonally left towards Vlassenbroek. Always keep left and follow Vlassenbroek until you reach the St. Gertrude church. To the left of this church, bike upwards to the Scheldedijk. There, turn left and continue following the Schelde (also beyond Killeweg). Bike under the N47 along the Schelde. Here you arrive at De Bruynkaai.

MONK WITH BEAR 12 The small roof visible in the parking lot is a remnant of the monk with bear, parts of a fortified lock. This lock was located next to bastion 2, on the right bank of the Dender, where it regulated the water level of the eastern and southern fortifications. The entire structure is preserved underground! During the reallocation of the intersection, part of this complex will be uncovered again.

Cross the parking lot and Noordlaan. Continue biking via Veerstraat, then turn right into Franz Courtensstraat until the first street on the right, Kazernestraat.

THE BARRACK 13 The bombproof barrack dates from 1830 and is the only one of 7 barracks that has remained more or less original, but unfortunately is in poor condition. Originally, the roof was covered with a layer of earth that made it 'bombproof.' The barrack contained 12 dormitories for 39 soldiers each, various storage rooms, a bakery, a kitchen,... Hendrik Conscience served his military service here!

From here, you can return via Kazerenestraat, turn right to Grote Markt where our bike tour ends.

Occasionally, you will need to cross fairly dangerous points; we urgently request that you dismount and continue on foot there, as well as respect traffic regulations and, where present, use pedestrian crossings.

I wish you lots of cycling fun Emiel Peeters