Weekend ride along Zenne, Rupel and Schelde

This great sunny Sunday I decided to go for the first 100k ride this season. A relatively flat one, along the rivers Zenne (yes, the one the runs underneath Brussels. Belgians! Why would you cover up a river that runs through a city? I'll never get that. It's what is missing in Brussels), Rupel and Schelde.

The GPS track and map is available here.




Leaving via Vilvoorde means the little climbs around Grimbergen are at the end of the tour - maybe not the best idea. However, once you are at Eppegem you already cross the river Zenne for the first time but the cycling path along the river is either non existing or non-paved. Only at Hombeek, after about 25k you reach the nicely paved "Jagpaad" that runs along the river Zenne. From here it is 40k pure cycling pleasure along the rivers.

along the Zenne at Zennegat. There's a nice little inn just left of the Bridge

for once there's good road surface in Belgium

A few kilometers down the road I passed through Klein-Willebroek which is a nice, quiet little village at the Rupel. Also nice for walking (Hazewinkel, Arkenbos) and having a drink on Sundays but hard to get to by car.

As from there it becomes a bit less scenic and less good roads. Through the industrial area of Willebroek, along the Rupel and the canal there are, however, some nice areas:

why would you make such a bikepath?

However, from there it gets better along the Schelde. A good 20k ride on nice surface until scenic Sint-Amands. You can use the free ferrys all along the way and change from one side of the Schelde to the other. Around Sint Amands it gets quite busy on Summer weekends. Understandable if you see the nice cafes and restaurants along the river. Like Klein-Willebroek I can also recommend Sint-Amands for a weekend trip out of Brussels.

Sint Amands (Foto copyright Van Grasdorff)

The way back to Brussels, some 30k or so, follows quiet back country roads and has some hills at the and towards Grimbergen. The way into the city is relatively easy.