Antwerp has changed enormously in recent years. Hop on your bike to see first-hand how much it’s changed with this nice cycling route which takes you from Sint-Niklaas to Antwerp and back. En route you get to enjoy beautiful nature, rural roads, and a boat trip on the Scheldt. In Antwerp, the possibilities are endless, from discovering architectural gems to visiting museums or enjoying a nice, leisurely lunch on a sunny terrace ... Tip: don’t forget to attach your bicycle bags to your ride. Whether you love good chocolate, enjoy shopping for nice clothes or a good read, there’s always something that will make your heart sing in the city’s many shops.

Belgium’s largest market square is the starting point of this route. Cycle southwards through Sint-Niklaas along Parklaan and past the Waasland Shopping Center. From junction 48 onwards, you’ll find yourself in a more rural setting. Near the De Ster leisure park, a long cobbled section of road gives you a sense of what roads must have looked like in the past. But the road also gives you a good idea of what the riders in the Paris-Roubaix cycling race have to endure all day long.

Haasdonk is the first village on your route. Bike through the village centre and into the beautiful nature of the Waasland region. At one point you even cycle through a field. There are numerous vending machines along your route, where you can snap up some fresh strawberries. Take a break along the way to enjoy this delicious regional product. Continue to Kruibeke where you cycle over the E17 motorway. The Hoboken shipyard already looms on the horizon in the distance, an indication that the Scheldt can’t be too far off.

Look to the right as you ride to to the ferry, where the polders of Kruibeke beckon. This is the largest flooding area in Flanders. Fancy a few extra miles? You can add a very nice cycling loop here (follow junctions 53, 54, 71 and 49).

The ferry service takes you from Kruibeke to Hoboken. Enjoy the sweeping views of the Scheldt along the way. In Hoboken you cycle along the fringe of Hobokense Polder, one of the most beautiful nature reserves on the territory of Antwerp. After a sharp bend and a bridge, the route winds its way through the former Petroleum Zuid industrial park. The area has since been decontaminated. Blue Gate Antwerp, Antwerp’s first sustainable business park, is currently being built here as you can see. Follow the new cycle path to the Scheldt quays and the Kennedy tunnel. For a shorter route, take the bicycle tunnel under the Scheldt to reconnect with the route at Galgenweel.

Alternatively you can follow the Scheldt quays northbound to explore a new Antwerp neighbourhood, called Nieuw Zuid. Stop on the new dike to admire the renovated quays. The locals love to come here for a relaxing walk. Are you in the mood for some culture? Head to the Gedempte Zuiderdokken, where you can visit the M HKA or FOMU | Photo museum. There is no shortage of cafes and restaurants in the Zuid neighbourhood.

Continue your route past junction 57 to Steen Castle, the oldest preserved building in Antwerp. This is a good place to park your bike and walk down Suikerrui and into the city centre. Whether you want to eat or drink something or do some shopping, Antwerp has it all. How about a long, well-deserved lunch for starters?

Next, dive into the Sint-Anna Tunnel and under the Scheldt to Linkeroever or the Left Bank. Enjoy the original elements in the tunnel. The unique wooden escalators are especially Instagrammable. Stop on the river banks once you emerge from the tunnel to enjoy the impressive view of Antwerp’s skyline. Cycle on to Galgenweel, a brackish lake with beautiful views. At the very end of the lake, you’ll spot a cable wire. If you’re into wakeboarding, this is the place to be. Alternatively, you can kick back with a drink while you watch the action on and in the water.

Head to Zwijndrecht and the train station, where the route merges with the F4 bicycle highway in the direction of Ghent. If you thought cycling along a railway line would be boring, then think again. En route, you will run into fields, forests, fruit farms and, above all, many other cycling enthusiasts like you who are enjoying the beautiful path. The drive back to Sint-Niklaas is relatively painless.