Cycling Flanders – Around the City of Bruges

Your cycling tour begins in Roeselare. Upon arrival, take a leisurely stroll through the birthplace of the renowned Flemish poet, Rodenbach, and explore the charming market square. To immerse yourself in the spirit of your holiday, visit the Bicycle Museum, where you can discover the fascinating history of the bicycle, from its origins to the present day. Just a short distance away, you will find the Castle Rumbeke, one of the oldest Renaissance castles in Belgium.

Today, you will cycle along predominantly flat paths, weaving through the hills of Flanders. In Ypres, you will encounter one of the largest secular Gothic building complexes in Europe: the Cloth Hall. Once used as a transshipment and storage hub for textiles, it is crowned by a 70-metre-high bell tower. Today, this iconic structure houses the multi-award-winning, interactive In Flanders Fields museum.

Today's cycling route in Flanders begins with a journey to the town of Poperinge, located near the French border. In Vleteren, you will have the opportunity to sample what is often regarded as the best beer in the world, the Trappist Westvleteren, brewed at the St. Sixtus Abbey. Continuing along the Yser, a coastal river marking the border between Belgium and France, you will head towards Diksmuide. In the district of Vladslo, you can visit the poignant Trauerndes Ehepaar (Mourning Couple), a powerful sculpture by German artist Käthe Kollwitz.

Today, your cycling journey takes you to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bruges. Along the way, consider taking a break in Jabbeke to visit the Provinciaal Museum Constant Permeke. The museum showcases over 150 works by the artist, who is regarded as one of the foremost figures in Flemish Expressionism. Upon arrival in Bruges, you can enjoy a leisurely evening stroll through this picturesque city, where you will spend the next three nights.

From Bruges, you cycle to Knokke, located on the North Sea coast. Here, you can relax on a 12-kilometre stretch of fine, sandy beach. Knokke is a chic seaside resort, renowned for its upscale boutiques and an art deco-style casino. To the east lies Het Zwin, the largest nature reserve on the Belgian coast. In the evening, you return to Bruges, where you can visit the Church of Our Lady, home to the famous Bruges Madonna by Michelangelo.

Today, the route of your bike tour through Flanders takes you back to the North Sea, with your destination being the seaside resort of De Haan. This charming town is notable for being the place where Albert Einstein resided for six months in 1933. De Haan is also a stop on the Kusttram, a tram line that links all the towns along the Belgian coast. Stretching 68 kilometres, the Kusttram is the longest coastal tram line in the world, running from Ostend to Zeebrugge, right alongside the North Sea shoreline.

The final stage of your journey takes you back to Roeselare. Along the way, you will pass the enchanting moated castle of Wijnendale. This historic building has been destroyed multiple times by invaders, most recently in 1811 during Napoleon's occupation. A banker from Brussels later had the castle painstakingly rebuilt, and part of the castle remains home to the family today. A museum has been established in another section of the castle, offering visitors a glimpse into its rich history.

After breakfast, your cycling holiday in Flanders and around Bruges comes to a close. Should you wish to extend your stay, we would be happy to arrange additional nights for you in Roeselare.