Day 4: Mechelen - Boom
- Mechelen – Boom Route: 58 kilometres (36 miles)
The last day in Flanders dawns. A shame, because we would love to have cycled to Antwerp, to Ghent and to Bruges (which is perfectly possible via the Art Cities Route). We immediately felt at home amongst the old brick houses, the green havens of peace and tranquillity and the numerous other cyclists.
Today’s ride, however, is a fitting finale that combines everything we now associate with cycling in Flanders: perfect cycle paths through small areas of nature, red-brick houses, historic breweries and great pubs. Right at the start of our journey, two highlights await us: the Het Anker and Batteliek breweries. The Het Anker brewery produces the traditional “Gouden Carolus” beer, which we tried the night before and really enjoyed! But what really blew our socks off was the Batteliek micro-brewery, which also produces lemonade and gin. The building is a former church and as soon as we step inside, we are immediately sold. Where the altar once stood, the hop boilers now steam, and where you would normally find the organ pipes, today the finest gin is being distilled. We continue to be amazed. Between the colourful church windows, modern art adorns the walls. Here, a great sense of aesthetics plays with the contrasts, resulting in a delightful brewery/restaurant that you will not want to leave
With an enormous tailwind, we cycle along the Zenne River, a route which cuts through the beautiful, natural Zennegat region;we hardly need to pedal. Arriving in Boom, we take the ferry to Klein Willebroek, and it is only then that we realise that we had just passed the site of the legendary Tomorrowland festival 😃 On the other side of the river, you immediately enter the idyllic Blaasveldbroek nature area. There are numerous ponds and marshes here, home to birds, frogs and water lilies. Easily navigable gravel paths lead through the dense greenery and comfortable seating along the way invites you to enjoy a little break here and there.
We cycle on, always on cycle paths or small side roads with not much traffic. In the rural outskirts of Mechelen, we marvel at the renovated brick courtyards that radiate so much warmth. Via a small botanical garden, we make our way back to the Leuven-Dyle Canal. If you want to take a shorter route, you can return directly to Mechelen from here. We make a small loop along the canal and savour a few fast kilometres along with many other cyclists.
Back in the city, the tour comes to an end in front of the Anker brewery. Perfect for treating yourself to a delicious drink and snack in a historic setting!
