Who says that the only way to enjoy a cycling trip is to head for the countryside? If you cycle the Art Cities Route, you will pass through Brussels, Leuven, Mechelen, Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges and Ostend. Centuries-old heritage, connected by a network of canals, rivers and old railway tracks, and forming a patchwork quilt of forts, churches, and almost non-stop art. In other words: you cycle through centuries of Flemish history.
You set off from (and return to) the city of your choice. Perhaps you want to start in bustling Brussels or Ostend, that city on the sea. From either you can criss-cross through Flanders, a 332 km route that takes you through our finest cities, along beautiful waterways such as Dijle, Nete and Schelde, and through striking landscapes. Breathe in the atmosphere of the university city of Leuven, discover art city Mechelen and pedal from one surprise to the next. Those cities, by the way, are perfect places to break your journey - plan in a few days to get to know them better.
And don’t worry, between the bustling cities there is enough green to keep anyone happy. Stop to enjoy the Sonian Forest, the Scheldt polders or Bulskampveld Landscape Park, or gaze in wonder as you cycle through the Kalkense Meersen, just outside Ghent.
Route information
- distance: 332 km
- shape: looped, bidirectional
- signage: The route is marked with rectangular panels