Cycling tour on the Trappist Route

Your cycling tour on the Trappist Route starts in the small Belgian town of Turnhout. Situated in the Campine, a flat sand and heathland landscape, the town is known for its playing card production. After arriving at the hotel, grab your bike and visit the local Nationaal Museum van de Speelkaart. Learn more about the history and production of playing cards. Get in the perfect mood for your cycling tour along the Trappist Route with a well-kept Belgian beer near the 12th century moated castle.

On the way to your first stage destination of Antwerp, the cycle path first takes you to Malle. In the district of Westmalle, you will reach the first monastery on your cycling tour along the Trappist Route. Try one of the beers brewed in the monastery brewery before getting back on the saddle towards Antwerp. Situated on the Scheldt, the city is one of the most important diamond processing centers in the world. The city is the birthplace of the world-famous artist Peter Paul Rubens, in whose city palace you can admire some of his masterpieces. Treat yourself to some Antwerpse Handjes (baked goods) or the sweet creations of local chocolatiers.

Today, you cycle through Flemish villages to the Trappist abbey Nazareth near the village of Brecht. Unfortunately, beer is no longer brewed here. In the abbey store, you have the opportunity to purchase soaps, candles and flags made by the nuns themselves. In your overnight stay in Brasschaat, the several-hectare municipal park with the Kasteel van Brasschaat and extensive gardens await you.

Today you cross the Belgian-Dutch border. A few kilometers behind it, you will reach Zundert, the birthplace of Vincent van Gogh. Just outside the small town is the third Trappist monastery on your cycling tour. The Trappist beer Zundert has been brewed in the Maria Toevlucht Abbey since 2013. In your overnight stay in Breda, take a stroll through the Grote Markt, the center of the old town. Soak up the relaxed serenity of the city in one of the many cafés. The beguinage near Valkenbergpark is an ideal place to recharge your batteries for the cycling stage to Tilburg the following day.

You cycle along the Brabant streams to the idyllic villages of Chaam, Alphen and Hilvarenbeek. The safari park Beekse Bergen is well worth a stopover. Experience rhinos, giraffes and buffaloes up close in the largest wild animal zoo in the Netherlands. Shortly before reaching Tilburg, you will reach the Trappist monastery Onze Lieve Vrouw van Koningshoeven. The world-famous La Trappe specialty beer is brewed here and can be enjoyed in the beer garden. Refreshed, you will soon reach the center of Tilburg. The city impresses with a mix of historic buildings and modern architecture.

Just beyond the city limits of Tilburg, you cycle a few kilometers along the Bel Lijntje, a former railroad line that has been converted into a cycle path. You reach Baarle halfway along the route. Due to its eventful history, the national border between the Netherlands and Belgium runs right through the town, sometimes even through the middle of houses. This gives you the opportunity to easily cross between the two countries in just a few meters. You will have reached your destination of Turnhout after just a few kilometers.

After breakfast, your cycling tour on the Trappist Route unfortunately comes to an end. We are happy to extend your stay in Turnhout with an extra night.