Cycling Along the Dender in Belgium

Old Stone Chapel near Geraardsbergen

One of my favorite activities is to ride a bicycle along the Dender River in Belgium, following a paved tow path. The Dender River flows through central Belgium, passing through parts of Hainaut, East Flanders, and Flemish Brabant before it joins the Scheldt at Dendermonde.  That much larger river then flows through Antwerp until it enters the North Sea in the Netherlands. The Dender River begins as two different forks in Hainaut; the Western Dender near Leuze-en-Hainaut and the Eastern Dender near the town of Jurbise. These rather small rivers converge at the town Ath, a historic cultural center known for its giants and its Gallo-Roman origins. From there the Dender flows north, passing under the high speed TGV and Eurostar line as it gently flows through the rolling plains and forests of Hainaut and East Flanders, passing through Lessines (Lessen), Geraardsbergen (Grammont), Ninove, and Aalst before it flows into the Scheldt at the town of Dendermonde.  The Dender River is navigable from Ath to Dendermonde, although much of the traffic above Aalst is largely recreational.







The old tow-path that used to accommodate animal drawn barges now is primarily used by cyclists, joggers, and scores of fishermen. I regularly ride the section between Deux-Acren and the Gavers, where the path cuts through swampland, forests, and cow pastures as it follows the brownish river. Bi-planes and gliders taking off from the airport near Geraardsbergenen, forests of strangely shaped trees, and swans are all visible from the path. Sometimes I stop in Geraardsbergen for a brown beer, or to explore the market area near the late medieval Church of St. Bartholomew. From there, I follow the winding river north to the Gavers, a recreational park next to a small lake with rental canoes, hiking trails, and a swimming pool. That is always a lively place during the summer. The Dender path starts in Ath and continues to Dendermond, a distance of about forty miles, and I have seen maybe a third of the route between Lessines and the Gavers.  Someday I hope to spend a day following the entire route, while stopping in towns and parks along the way.

Fall Leaves, Dender River

Dender River Tow Path, Geraardsbegen

Fall Leaves along the Dender

Wildflowers

Deux-Acren Locks on the Dender

Path Through Forests and Meadows