Canal Route (40,5km)

The Canal Route is a flat, beautiful cycling recreational route that has a short steep climb in two places (domain 3, Fonteinen Vilvoorde and the Kraaienberg Grimbergen) (this loop is not really flat as officially mentioned...). A correct GPX can be downloaded here in RouteYou.
Official information about this loop can be found on the site of the Province of Flemish Brabant (pdf of the route - without the adjustments below - and a text description on http://www.toerismevlaamsbrabant.be/fietsen/fietsproducten/kanaalroute/index.jsp ).

This loop is just over 40km long and is 'short but deliberately' drawn differently from the official route in 2 places:
1. Arriving in Vilvoorde, the Groenstraat is not followed to the post office. This one-way street for cars is simply unsafe because people cycle in the opposite direction, there are cars parked on both sides, and the arriving cars never slow down in narrow passages. Due to the reconstruction of the Hendrik-I-Lei in Vilvoorde center, the latter has become a much safer alternative.
2. In Grimbergen, when approaching the Burnt Bridge, the Maelbeek is kept on the right side. This narrower 'Winkelveldstraat' (where the farm used to have a water mill) is safer and more pleasant to cycle than the parallel Vaartstraat that is on the official route.

The GPX of the drawn loop starts in Eppegem center, at the bus stop in the direction of Vilvoorde. In the center, at the church, there is ample parking, and you can also get there via the Eppegem train station (200m).
You can of course start this loop wherever this loop starts (the original start is in Vilvoorde on the Grote Markt, where the loop also passes by).

From Eppegem this loop goes via the Zenneverkorting and Schoewever through Vilvoordecentrum (Hendrik-I-Lei and along the Hendrik-I-plein) and does a loop around the Grote Markt. It crosses the Sea Canal and follows it in a southerly direction until just before the Northern Ring around Brussels. Then she climbs steeply right into the domain 3 Fonteinen and takes the old Kasteellaan behind the Orangery (current Brasserie), goes over the hollow Blaesenbergweg, then behind the VTM buildings, to take another hollow road on the Medialaan.

A little further the Tangebeek forest is crossed and behind the Tangebeek the Kraaienberg is climbed, which has a beautiful view of Brussels, Grimbergen and the Canal Zone in store.

Via the Prinsendreef, the Abdijstraat (old cassia road downhill: always an experience!) is taken past the old abbey gardens and the MIRA Observatory, after which the Maelbeek is followed briefly to the Lieirmolen. The Forest Castle is taken via an avenue of trees, but the Maelbeek remains the guide to the Burnt Bridge on the Zeekanaal. Pollard willows and watermills along the Maelbeek continue to charm this route

here the left bank is followed in a northerly direction to the Humbeek bridge, and then the right bank to the border with Kapelle-op-den-Bos. Just before that, the Zemst lock was driven, which replaced several other locks on this canal.

Via Castle Koningsteen Zemst-Laar is passed on the right. Various chapels and castle domains (not visible from the street) take you to the edge of the original Senne towards Eppegem, where our starting point is.

Official information about this loop can be found on the site of the Province of Flemish Brabant:
PDF of the route -without the above adjustments- and a text description: http://www.toerismevlaamsbrabant.be/fietsen/fietsproducten/kanaalroute/index.jsp