Cycling Flanders – Around the City of Bruges

Day 1: Individual arrival in Roeselare

Your bicycle holiday begins in Roeselare in the province West Flanders. After your arrival, stroll through the town and explore its historical centre with its countless sights around the market place. The bicycle museum is ideal to get into the mood for your upcoming holiday. A little outside the town you can find Rumbeke castle, one of the oldest Renaissance castles in Belgium.

Day 2: Roeselare – Ypres, approx. 30 km

Today you will cycle through Flanders along mostly flat paths in between the individual hills. In Ypres you can see one of the largest secular Gothic building complexes in Europe: The Cloth Hall used to be an important place of transshipment and storage of textiles. The building houses the museum In Flandern Fields, which has received several awards. There is an exhibition about Ypres´ fate in World War I.

Day 3: Ypers – Diksmuide, approx. 45 / 60 km

The route first takes you into the town Poperinge near the French border. In Vleteren you can try a Trappist beer at the Trappist Abbey Sankt Sixtus. You will then follow the Yser, a coastal river between Belgium and France, which flows into the North Sea at Nieuwpoort in direction of Diksmuide, today´s destination. In Vladslo, a district of Diksmuide, you can see The Grieving Parents, a group of figurines made by Käthe Kollwitz.

Day 4: Diksmuide – Bruges, approx. 60 km

Today you will cycle to Bruges, which was European Capital of Culture in 2002. Its medieval city centre is a UNESCO world heritage site. On the way there you should plan a break in Jabbeke, where you should visit the Provinciaal Museum Constant Permeke. More than 150 works of art are displayed here, among them 80 paintings by the painter and sculptor Constant Permeke.

Day 5: Trip to Knokke, approx. 60 km

From Bruges you will cycle to Knokke, which is located on the shore of the North Sea. Here you will find a 12 km long sandy beach. Knokke is a chic seaside resort with fashionable boutiques and a casino. The Het Zwin, the largest nature reserve on the Belgian coast, is located to the East. It is known for its great diversity of indigenous sea birds. In the evening you will return to Bruges.

Day 6: Trip to De Haan, approx. 55 km

Today your route will once again take you to the North Sea. Your destination is the holiday resort De Haan, where Albert Einstein lived for six months in 1933. The Kusttram, a tram line which connects all the places along the Belgian coast, also stops here. The line is 68 kilometres long and takes passengers directly along the coast of the North Sea between Ostend and Zeebrugge.

Day 7: Bruges – Roeselare, approx. 60 km

The last stage takes you back to Roeselare. You will come past the moated castle Wijnendale, which looks like it could be the setting of a fairy-tale. The building was destroyed by invaders several times, most recently in 1811 by Napoleon´s troops. The banker Josse-Pierre Matthieu from Brussels purchased the ruins and had the castle rebuilt. The family still owns the moated castle and lives in a part of it.

Day 8: Individual journey home or extension of stay

After breakfast your cycling holiday in Flanders and at the North Sea ends. If you wish you could extend your stay in Roeselare.

Not included is the city or visitor's tax (if payable).

Applies for accommodation in rooms with 2 full-paying guests.

Due to the more challenging sections, we recommend this tour only for young people in good physical condition.

Types of rental bikes

• 21-gear women's / men's bike with free-wheel
• Electric bike

Fittings

Pannier, pump, bike lock, milometer, repair kit