Bike holidays in Flanders An ecological Flanders, a city Partners for How to develop Cycling along the discovery at trip trough your bike a bike holiday node network your own pace nature holiday Content Content Content Route 1 Route 2 Beer route Flemish Masters route Read more Angle-Right Flanders: Cycling in Read more Angle-Right I Craftsmanship IIFlanders along at the heart of the node Route 3 Europe network: Attractive, safe The Best of A compendium Read more Angle-Right and comfortable Flanders route of regional cycling routes Read more Angle-Right Read more Angle-Right Read more Angle-Right Cycling holidays IIIin Flanders: a strong project B2B platform: IVPractical, useful Read more Angle-Right and inspiring Accessible Partner tourism overview Read more Angle-Right V VI Read more Angle-Right Read more Angle-Right 2 3 I. Flanders: Craftsmanship at the heart of Europe Flanders: I Craftsmanship Flanders is a tale of impressive at the heart of Flemish people, ground-breaking craftsmanship, historic heritage, Europe astonishing landscapes and an unparalleled gastronomic, drinking and dining culture. Angle-Right Art, heritage and the Flemish Masters Angle-Right Flavourful Flanders Angle-Right In Flanders Fields Angle-Right A wide array of landscapes and monuments 5 I. Flanders: Craftsmanship at the heart of Europe I. Flanders: Craftsmanship at the heart of Europe Art, heritage and the “In Flanders, we enjoy Flemish Masters life and we love good Flanders is able to draw on a centuries-old cultural food. You'll continue heritage that is as rich as it is varied. Its host of world-famous museums, galleries and art centres to experience that any put this heritage on display, and special events time you’re in Flanders are organised in its honour all year round. Able to boast artists such as Jan van Eyck, Pieter Bruegel for a bite to eat”. the Elder, Peter Paul Rubens and James Ensor, Chef Peter Goossens - Hof van Cleve Flanders promises art lovers the time of their life when they visit. There’s no better time to visit Flanders and discover the Flemish Masters than from 2021 to 2022, when the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp will be reopened, 450 years of Bruegel's life and work will be celebrated, and the Flavourful Flanders Ghent Altarpiece will be restored and returned to With 97 restaurants listed with one or more its home at St Bavo's Cathedral in Ghent. Michelin stars, Flanders is more densely packed with first-class dining establishments than Discover the Flemish Masters route most places in the world. There’s no doubt that anyone interested in treating themselves to a first-rate culinary experience is sure to find what they are looking for in Flanders. That said, Flanders also has an incredibly broad selection for any budget: from chip stands or street food to cafés and brasseries. In addition to chips and chocolate, Flanders has a prolific, exuberant and centuries-old beer tradition that is still very much alive today. Experts adore Flemish beers for their diversity, real taste and character. Discover the Beer Route 6 7 I. Flanders: Craftsmanship at the heart of Europe I. Flanders: Craftsmanship at the heart of Europe In Flanders Fields For four years, Flanders also set the dramatic stage for some of the bloodiest battles of the First World War (1914-18). To this day the landscape continues to testify to this history of war. There are hundreds of monuments and cemeteries of tremendous historical significance to people visiting from all corners of the world. Visitors can visit any number of different interactive museums. These explain the various aspects of the conflict, A wide array of landscapes such as the battles, what daily life was like, and monuments and the consequences of war in general. Golden fields of wheat, vast polders, dunes and sandy beaches along the kilometre-long coast, with steep climbs in the Flemish Ardennes or the purple moors of the Limburg Kempen: it’s a feast of colour and texture for the eyes like no other. Quiet areas, forests, lakes and winding rivers, and a landscape punctuated with hidden abbeys, ancient castles, renowned museums, cathedrals and churches. From picturesque villages to the art cities of Flanders: there is something to do anywhere you go in Flanders, where the landscape and monuments shift from one to the other in just the blink of an eye. In a nutshell, this means that providing your customers with an unforgettable cycling experience is a job easily done. Send them cycling through the water or the placid creeks of Meetjesland, past impressive works of art and panoramic lookouts. Finish the route off with historical monuments, a climb up a belfry or the search for peace and quiet in one of the many nature reserves. Discover the Best of Flanders route 8 9 I. Flanders: Craftsmanship at the heart of Europe I. Flanders: Craftsmanship at the heart of Europe 97 km Bruges Antwerp 24 km 84 km 44 km 65 km Ghent 66 km Mechelen 32 km 54 km Hasselt Leuven Brussels Accessibility and transport Flanders is at the heart of Europe. A host of air and train connections are available in Brussels, and European metropolises such as London, Paris, Several city trips with nature Amsterdam or Berlin are nearby. The major Flemish as the backdrop cities aren’t too far from each other and are easily accessible by train, bus, car or bicycle. Flanders is a pioneer in the area of cycle nodes and currently has Mixing and matching trips to the major cities of over 12,000 kilometres of signposted paths Flanders to create a multi-day cycling trip is no trouble at all. The distances between them aren’t too large and nature offers a gorgeous backdrop along the way. 10 11 II. Cycling in Flanders along the node network: Attractive, safe and comfortable Cycling in Flanders II along the node Cycling is more popular than ever and the node network definitely has network: something to do with that. Flanders is the number-one pioneer in the area Attractive, safe and of cycle nodes and currently has over comfortable 12,000 kilometres of signposted paths. Angle-Right A Flemish first and the craftsmanship behind it Angle-Right Simple and ingenious Angle-Right Infinite variation Angle-Right Flexible and easy Angle-Right Safe and reliable Angle-Right And so much more 12 13 II. Cycling in Flanders along the node network: Attractive, safe and comfortable II. Cycling in Flanders along the node network: Attractive, safe and comfortable “Flanders is currently one of the most popular cycling regions in Europe: there are over 10 million trips made along the cycle nodes.” A Flemish first and the craftsmanship behind it The concept of 'cycle nodes' was invented by the Limburg mining engineer Hugo Bollen. Initially, nodes ensured that miners could find their way underground in the coal mines. In 1995 the same principle was applied above ground in Limburg, and that was how the first cycling network was born. Other provinces followed suit and today the high-quality network of cycle nodes has made the whole of Flanders easily accessible. This example of ground- breaking craftsmanship has not gone unnoticed in neighbouring countries, and as a result similar networks can be found › Youtube video in EN with an criss-crossing all of Europe. explanation of cycle nodes 14 15 II. Cycling in Flanders along the node network: Attractive, safe and comfortable II. Cycling in Flanders along the node network: Attractive, safe and comfortable Simple and ingenious Infinite variation The loveliest and safest routes have been delineated and The variation is unprecedented: from the flat Kempen the places where two bike paths cross, forms a node. Each with its beautiful towns and canals, to the rugged node has a number and along the routes there are signs Flemish Ardennes and the beautiful coast. pointing to the next node. The entire network is clearly You can take long rides through vast forests, with signposted in both directions. All signs are at eye level and pleasant stops along the way at a Trappist abbey or at fixed distances from each intersection; the same sign is a castle, or perhaps go cycling through cities with also posted again after each intersection. museums to visit or cafés with outdoor terraces where you can enjoy a nice meal or simply savour a glass of something nice. Or maybe you would prefer cycling by the picturesque villages and beautiful river landscapes: it's all possible in Flanders. Flexible and easy The major advantage of this system is that as a cyclist you can lengthen or shorten your route depending on the circumstances. Depending on the weather, time, physical condition or travel group, adjustments can still be made along the way based on the clear node system. 16 17 II. Cycling in Flanders along the node network: Attractive, safe and comfortable II. Cycling in Flanders along the node network: Attractive, safe and comfortable Safe and reliable Traffic rules and safety The cycling routes within the network As a cyclist you are seen as a vulnerable road user have been carefully arranged, which also in Flanders, which also means that you benefit from means that the safest bike paths in the additional protection by the law. However, there are also most beautiful regions of Flanders have a number of traffic rules that have to be followed, and been selected. The network is regularly customers who bring their own bicycles with them must meet maintained and updated, so that you the following requirements, among others: can always guarantee your customers the best routes along the most beautiful - A working bell areas of Flanders.