7 cycling routes past the most beautiful cafés

Schellebelle not only sounds fun – the village also starts off a cycling route that ends with a nice extra: a ferry crossing. Who calls the ferryman? Well, you, but that's only for later. First, you'll bowl along through the greenery of Serskamp and Schoonaarde, to end up via Berlare at the Donkmee, known as 'den Donk' – the second-largest lake in Flanders. Further on toward the Scheldt is the Kalkense Meersen nature reserve, where at Den Aard the ferry sails all day from one bank to the other. To call the ferryman (or woman), give a tug on the blue bell: unique in Flanders! During spring and summer, you can go back and forth until 9pm for free. 

Cafés: Den Aard and 't Oud Brughuys

This cycling route really saves the best for last. Not only the ferry awaits you at the Scheldt, but also Den Aard, one of the most popular stops in the Kalkense Meersen. Grab a spot at Geert and Veerle's café terrace for a home-baked pancake, a bowl of artisanal ice cream or a local beer.

In turn, hostess Sofie will indulge you with coffee, local beers, a pancake or a savoury snack at 't Oud Brughuys, a popular café in the former house of the 'bridge runner' on the Scheldt in Berlare. There is a charging station for e-bikes and, on sunny days, a lovely café terrace.

Scheldeland means water, rivers and grassy green banks. But also castles where lords and ladies of standing once hosted lavish banquets as rulers of their counties. On the Cycling past castles route, you will encounter them in all architectural styles, sizes and colours: from the magnificent moated Laarne Castle through Beervelde Park to the often fairytale-like country houses in Destelbergen. Two fantastic natural spots make this ride absolutely worthwhile: the Gentbrugse Meersen along the Scheldt in Gentbrugge and the Kalkense Meersen, a unique lake area near Wetteren.

Café: 't Haeseveld

'Café' is an all-too-modest word for the beer garden of 't Haeseveld, a brewery-cum-catering establishment that, after an impressive renovation, grew into one of the wow cafés in the green outskirts of Ghent. This is no surprise, with those exclusive Haeseveld beers tapped directly from the cooling tanks, the fun playground, the tasty desserts on the menu and the attentive service. Whenever you cycle past, you can always grab a seat on the terrace here, as 't Haeseveld is open until 1am every day. Now to capture one of those coveted patio chairs!

When animals still spoke, they mostly chattered away in the Waasland woods, the birthplace of the animal epic 'Van den Vos Reynaerde'. Canteclaer, the talking rooster from the story, is your guide on the Canteclaer cycling route, a trip through the forests and farmlands between Stekene, Lokeren and Moerbeke. Along the Stekene canal is where you'll find the Fondatie van Boudelo, a peaceful area that belonged to the Abbey of Boudelo in its day. Cycling a little further on, you will encounter the protected Moervaartmeersen. Also on your ride: the villages of Daknam and Eksaarde, after which you continue on to the Linie, another peaceful area, and can totally unwind at the Kruiskapel.

Café: 't Veldcafé

Hearty sandwiches with country ham are the specialty of 't Veldcafé, a typical folk café in Moerbeke, but you're welcome to bring your own picnic too. To the left of the café, the nice terrace offers a view of the passing Zuidlede. What's on the menu is also great: cakes, ice cream sundaes and catered snacks at democratic prices. Another nice feature is the charging point for your electric bike. Another round, then?

Cycling through the East Flanders Lys region is always a bit of a holiday. The Lys region cycling route from Ghent to Deinze and back again strings together the top attractions: the little ferry of Afsnee, the picturesque Astene Lock, the fairytale Ooidonk Castle, the delightful picnic spot Maaigemdijk and, of course, the museums, as this landscape has inspired numerous artists. You can view their work at the Museum of Deinze and the Lys region and the Gust De Smet Museum, both of which are right on your cycling route. In short, this is a ride brimming with hotspots through the garden of Ghent, not to mention the wonderful cafés.

Cafés: Astene Lock and d'Ouwe Hoeve

't Oud Sashuis at Astene Lock remains the classic in the East Flanders Lys region. The historic café flaunts a waterfront terrace and even serves up its own beer with the Schobiak. Highly recommended, especially when combined with the house's bountiful aperitif platter! When a boat passes by, the jovial cafe owner Wim still manually operates the drawbridge. Often in the company of parrot Boris, the house mascot.

In Deurle, on a village square that seems plucked from a postcard, the terrace chairs of d'Ouwe Hoeve beckon. On your plate: catered brasserie dishes prepared with mostly artisanal products from local growers and breeders. But in this 'piece of Provence in Flanders', you'll also just be welcome for a drink.

In Flanders, the Dender meanders through East Flanders and Flemish Brabant, but it finds its source in Ath, the Hainaut 'city of giants'. With the Ath cycling route, you start at the banks of the Dender in Geraardsbergen, to end up after a climb through the slopes of the Flemish Ardennes in Wallonie Picarde on the other side of the language border. This route is designed for those who enjoy a challenge, but rest assured: the reward awaits!

Café: Het Bruggenhuis

At the food and talk café Het Bruggenhuis, the start and end point of this route, it was skippers and fishermen who used to hang out at the bar. Today, it is a popular stop for cyclists and hikers, as well as for music-lovers, as this is where well-known musical people regularly jump on stage. At the waterfront café, you can choose from a fine selection of Belgian beers and well-crafted, home-cooked dishes.

Once a trading competitor of the Lys, today the Oude Kale river discreetly winds its way through the Oude Kalevallei, the star of this cycling route. With its flowery hay meadows, rows of knotted willows and locks, the valley is one of the Meetjesland's best-preserved natural areas. Also to be encountered along the way: castles in charming villages such as Hansbeke, Vinderhoute and Merendree, the impressive Schipdonk Canal and the protected Van Vlaenderen Mill on the Molenslag hillside, at the edge of the Oude Kalevallei.

Café: Garden Café 't Wegeltje

Garden Cafe 't Wegeltje just radiates feeling: a cosy café that puts accessibility first and serves all kinds of tasty things straight from the field. As parents of children with disabilities, Ann and Alex, who run it, want to 'focus on people, not their disabilities'. A super café for a sunny day!

Ghent traditionally guarantees a day or city trip full of culture, heritage, great catering and very cool cafés. But also a surprising cycling route from the centre, along some green areas on the city's outskirts. The Gentbrugse Meersen, for example, a 240-hectare patchwork of wet meadows, grasslands and great places to spread out your picnic blanket. Or Parkbos, another new green lung between Zwijnaarde, Sint-Denijs-Westrem, De Pinte and Sint-Martens-Latem.

Café: Bar Bidon

At Bar Bidon, a coffee and cycling bar with a waterfront café, you'll marvel at exclusive bikes and accessories while enjoying a cappuccino or a different coffee. Of course, the location is also top notch: on the quay at hotspot the Reep, where water has finally been flowing again since 2018