Belgium Beer Route
Belgium, Netherlands Bike Tours
Biking & beer in Flanders, Belgium
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length8 days
- Prices from€860 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
We already know that the beer in Belgium is great, but did you know that biking here is too? In fact, beer and biking are the national past times of Belgium!
On this bike tour in an idyllic Flemish landscape, you will discover the origins of several of Belgium’s best beers, all the while enjoying the lovely surroundings these beers come from.
The great variety of Belgian beer stems from its varied history and dates back to the Middle Ages. Beer and craftsmanship go hand in hand here and is expressed in the diversity of brewing methods and the creative use of spices, fruits, and herbs such as the use of coriander and bitter orange.
Highlights
- Cycling through the woody Campine Region
- Bocholt Beer Brewery Museum
- Beverbeekse Heide Nature Reserve
- Achelse Kluis: St. Benedict's Abbey and adjacent brewery
- Heeze Castle
- Postel Abbey
- Cosmopolitan Antwerp and the Konnick Brewery
- University town of Leuven
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Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Genk
Day 2: Genk - Heeze, 47 mi. (75 km)
Day 3: Heeze - Turnhout, 40 mi. (64 km)
Day 4: Turnhout - Antwerp, 43 mi. (69 km)
Day 5: Antwerp - Leuven, 39 mi. (63 km)
Day 6: Leuven - Diest, 27 mi. (44 km)
Day 7: Diest - Genk, 36 mi. (58 km)
Day 8: Departure from GenkDue to organizational reasons, weather conditions, or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during your holiday. For example, along the way, you may find temporary deviations caused by work on roads that cannot be foreseen.
Day 1: Arrival Genk
Individual arrival to Genk, check in to hotel located in the delightful Molenvijver Park.Preferred accommodation: Hotel Zuid
Day 2: Genk - Heeze, 47 mi. (75 km)
On quiet country roads, you cycle to Bocholt, home to Europe’s largest beer brewery museum. Here you will discover the whole procedure leading up to a perfectly poured pint. As you continue, you cycle past Hamont to Beverbeekse Heide nature reserve consisting of wetland, woods, and patches of heath. You will make a stop at Achelse Kluis, St. Benedict’s Abbey, and adjacent brewery, shop, gallery, and inn. The brewery, closed to the public, is one of the few places in the world where Trappist beer is still brewed, now under the supervision of two remaining monks, Cistercians of the Strict Observance or Trappists. After a well-earned Tripel, in the sunshine outside the inn, proceed through Leenderbossen woods to the villages of Leende and Heeze. In the evening, go for a pleasant walk on the grounds of Heeze Castle.Preferred accommodation: Kapellerput Hotel
Day 3: Heeze - Turnhout, 40 mi. (64 km)
On today’s route, you will traverse the Brabant Campine / Kempen region, enjoying woods and fields of heather. If you come in August, you will see the heather flowering. Stop off in the Brabant towns Valkenswaard and Bergeijk. Back in Belgium, the route passes close to Postel Abbey where beer has been brewed since 1611. Have a break in Arendonk and then end the day in Turnhout, a town historically linked to the production of playing cards. Check out the museum!Preferred accommodation: Best Western Plus Turnhout City
Day 4: Turnhout - Antwerp, 43 mi. (69 km)
Your first stop is picturesque Merksplas where you can pop in at the visitors’ center to find out all about former Merksplas-Kolonie, a corrective institution where able-bodied vagrants and beggars were taught farming skills and made to work the fields. Later on, pass Oostmalle and Malle on the way to Westmalle where you may enjoy a well-deserved Trappist beer at the café across the road from the abbey, before continuing on your way to the cosmopolitan city of Antwerp.Preferred accommodation: Hampton by Hilton Antwerpen
Day 5: Antwerp - Leuven, 39 mi. (63 km)
As you leave Antwerp behind, your surroundings will become progressively quieter and greener. If you are into military heritage, stop off in Mortsel to visit Fort no. 4 of the originally eight Brialmont Forts (1860-1864) that made up the defensive line of Antwerp. It is built in brick with sandstone decorations and stands on an island surrounded by a ditch and glacis. Cycling towards Leuven you will pass the festival grounds of Rock Werchter, an annual four-day festival held at the end of June / beginning of July. The Rock Werchter Experience Center can be found in the village of Rotselaar. As you approach Leuven on your bicycle, you will encounter some gentle slopes. Leuven is a friendly and attractive university town. In the evening, have your taste of the good life alongside the local bon-vivants. Admire the lovely architecture of the Town Hall and library. Go for a walk through the quarter known as Groot Begijnhof, a beguinage.Preferred accommodation: Park Inn by Radisson Leuven
Day 6: Leuven - Diest , 27 mi. (45 km)
This wonderful leg of the tour takes you to Diest. In Tielt-Winge you will find Vlooybergtoren, a viewpoint with a difference: a rusty flight of stairs that ends in mid-air and looks like it will topple over at any minute. A little farther on, you will find Haksberg Castle amid 3.6 hectares of vineyards. Their wines are named after birds that can be found in the local Hageland region. Your next stop is Belgium’s most important pilgrimage site, Scherpenheuvel, which boasts the oldest central-plan domed church in the Low Countries. Crown your day in beautiful Diest, a town that has ties to the Royal House of Orange. As yet undiscovered by mass tourism, it will probably be your biggest surprise on this holiday. Have a look around the courtyard beguinage, one of the oldest, most beautiful, and best preserved in the Low Countries. Amble along the River Demer which flows through town once again, after having been covered up since the 1960s. A boardwalk, a cycling path, steps, and seating invite the townspeople to spend time by the water.Preferred accommodation: Hotel de Franse Kroon
Day 7: Diest - Genk, 36 mi. (58 km)
The last leg of this tour takes you to several special and unique places. Cycling on today’s flat roads won’t leave you breathless, but the landscape surely will. Firstly, you will cycle to Schulermeer lake, which offers an array of water sports. Next, you will cycle to De Weijers, also known as Land of 1001 Ponds. Slalom your way around the manmade fishing ponds, marveling at the colorful vegetation and keeping an eye out for special species of amphibians and birds. Your next stop is in Bokrijk, an open-air museum that covers country life from 1910 to the 1960s, offering workshops in all kinds of historical skills and crafts. Towards the end of the day, get ready for the most bizarre experience of this holiday: Cycle on a path a that runs for 200 meters right through a natural lake. You will be at eye level with the surface of the water, moving in total harmony with the ducks.Preferred accommodation: Hotel Zuid
Day 8: Departure from Genk
After one last hotel buffet breakfast, your bicycle holiday will come to an end. It is time to make your own way home.Looking for more? View all our featured bicycle tours, specials, and news, or look at our full list of bike tours in Europe.
Hotels & Bikes
Accommodations
You will be accommodated in 3 and 4-star accommodations such as the Hotel Atlantis in Genk and the Kapellerput Hotel in Heeze. On each day’s details you will find the name of the preferred hotel. If availability is an issue, you will be informed accordingly.
Bicycles
Standard Hybrid Bike
Giant Aero RS2 (or similar)
- Aluminum alloy frame
- Shimano Deore 24 gears
- 28-inch wheels
- Sports saddle
- Flat pedals
- Rear rack
- Front and rear lights
Accessories
- Lock and one extra chain lock per two bikes
- One pannier
- Small repair kit including an extra inner tube, chain rivet extractor, and hand pump
Premium Hybrid Bike
Giant Aero RS1 (or similar)
- Aluminum alloy frame
- Shimano Deore XT 27 gears
- 28-inch wheels
- Selle Royal Saddle
- Flat pedals (SPD or SPD-SL on request)
- Rear rack
Accessories
- Lock and one extra chain lock per two bikes
- One pannier
- Small repair kit including an extra inner tube, chain rivet extractor, and hand pump
- Helmets available (Lazer Compact or Polisport, M, L, & XL)
Electric Bike
Kalkhoff 2.0 Impulse (or similar)
- Pedelec
- Step-through frame
- Shimano Nexus 7-Speed
- Bosch 500 WH PowerPack
- Three levels of support
- Front and rear rights
- Defender lock with plug-in chain
Accessories
- Lock and one extra chain lock per two bikes
- One pannier
- Small repair kit including an extra inner tube, chain rivet extractor, and hand pump
- Helmets available (Lazer Compact or Polisport, M, L, & XL)
Children’s Bikes and Accessories
Giant, Merida, or Golden Lion
- Aluminum Frames
- Shimano 7 gears
- Flat pedals
Accessories
Front child seat (for children up to 30 months, max. 15 kg). Not possible to be used with electric bikes.
Rear child seat (for children older than 30 months, max 22 kg).
Children helmets are availableTandem
Multicycle, Sparta, or Gazelle
- Aluminum frame
- Shimano Deore LX or Deore XT gearing
- Shimano Deore rim brakes
- Flat pedals
Accessories
- Lock and one extra chain lock per two bikes
- One pannier
- Small repair kit including an extra inner tube, chain rivet extractor, and hand pump
- Helmets available (Lazer Compact or Polisport, M, L, & XL)
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodation for 7 nights in 3 & 4-star hotels
- Breakfast (buffet)
- 24-speed hybrid touring bike with pannier & lock
- Route descriptions & tourist information
- GPS tracks available on request
- Luggage transfer
- 7-day service hotline
What’s Not Included
- Lunches
- Dinners (can be included for a supplement)
- Ferry crossings
- Bike protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
2021
Saturday departures
April 3 to September 25, 2021
Please Note
- Rates are based on double occupancy
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
Twin/double: $ 1353 £ 762 $ 1,344 € 860 NZ$ 1447 kr 8854 $ 1,071 Single room: $ 1849 £ 1041 $ 1,836 € 1175 NZ$ 1977 kr 12098 $ 1,464
Extra Options
Dinner included (7): $ 386 £ 217 $ 383 € 245 NZ$ 412 kr 2522 $ 305 Electric bike rental: $ 110 £ 62 $ 109 € 70 NZ$ 118 kr 721 $ 87 Premium hybrid bike: $ 63 £ 35 $ 63 € 40 NZ$ 67 kr 412 $ 50 Helmet rental: $ 16 £ 9 $ 16 € 10 NZ$ 17 kr 103 $ 12 Extra night in Genk:
Twin/double: $ 110 £ 62 $ 109 € 70 NZ$ 118 kr 721 $ 87 Single: On request
Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy–Moderate
We are rating this tour easy to moderate even though you will cycle mostly on flat terrain. Distances range from 27 to 47 miles.
Airport Info
Fly to Brussels International Airport (BRU) located 90 km from Genk.
Local Travel
The railway station, Brussels Airport - Zaventem, located beneath the airport directly under the departures and arrivals halls, provides access to all major cities in Belgium. There is an intercity train to Genk that departs from the airport with a transfer in Leuven. Travel time is 1 hour and 42 minutes. If you are spending time in Brussels before your tour, there are 6 trains an hour to and from Brussels.
Climate
Belgium has a temperate maritime climate influenced by the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, with cool summers and moderate winters. Sometimes easterly winds can cause a more continental type of weather, being quite warm and dry in the summer. Please check local conditions before your arrival.
Important to know
Documents
Before you travel, please check your country's passport and visa requirements and the passport and visa requirements of the country/countries you plan to visit. For US citizens, the US Department of State website is a good source of information. The Country Information tab in the International Travel section provides details about passport validity, blank passport pages required, etc. For our other international clients, please be sure that you research your own country's travel requirements. It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure proper documentation.
*Important note: Please check on the status of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) as once implemented, will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Belgian Bike Tours.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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