Cycling through the water and cycling through the heath: the better alternative, more through nature

This cycle route is based on 'Cycling through the water and cycling through the Heide' of "Visit Limburg".

I cycled that route, but was disappointed by the fairly large part of the route that goes through village centers, so I started looking for an alternative that goes more through nature.

Admittedly, it is not easy if you want to combine 'through the water' and 'through the moors' in a tour of around 60 km in this densely populated area, and I can understand that a tourist organization chooses C-Mine as a starting point, yet THE tourist eye-catcher of the region ...

This route goes further south and along the canal.

Starting point is Zutendaal, but Bokrijk and As station are equally suitable starting points. These three are by the way the most obvious intermediate stops.

From Zutendaal it goes via the nature reserve 'De Maten' to the Albert Canal. Continue to the open-air museum of Bokrijk where Bar Zozef can be a pleasant stopover. Here is a city quarter that is composed of 15th and 16th century buildings and facades from the Antwerp city center.

A little further on we cycle through the water of the fish ponds, a unique experience!

It continues through nature and we see the mine slag heaps of Winterslag.

We arrive in As where the watchtower in the shape of the first mine shaft and the old station ask for a stop.

The last stretch to the start leads right through the Mechelse heath and it is here that we cross the bridge 'cycling through the heath' .

Zutendaal invites you to strengthen the inner man with its newly constructed village lane ...

Be sure to also consult the information about the sights once you are there . They explain what you get to see!

08/2022