Around Postel Abbey

An adventure in the Kempen, a region in the province of Antwerp, near the Dutch border, starts at ecocentre De Goren. There we get on our bikes, a few pedal strokes later cruising along the Zilvermeer. This huge recreational area is situated around the lake of the same name, one of the many lakes in this region. We make our way towards the canal via a beautiful enclosed cycle path.

That expanse of water soon brings us to a first highlight: the Sas4 Tower. This 37-metre-high tower marks the spot where three canals merge, a unique feature in Europe. We put our bikes aside and climb the tower's 216 steps. An effort that pays off. Once at the top, we see a magnificent panorama over the quiet Kempen region. In clear weather, we look for kilometres over a landscape full of greenery, sandy beaches and the many Kempen Lakes.

Once we reached the ground floor again, we continued. On a dead straight path where the bike is king, we pedal along the water. Three delightful quarters later, we turn right. A small diversions brings us to Ronde Put, a domain of 165 hectares of pristine nature. We leave the bike for a while to explore this photogenic lake, its marshes, reed beds and grasslands. A tip for the birdwatchers among us: bring binoculars to spot some rare water and birds of prey.

After this short outing by foot, we cycle on again. We paddle briefly on the border with the Netherlands and even take a short trip to our northern neighbours, right through the greenery. A few kilometres later, we arrive back safe and sound in Flanders. Meanwhile, we are about halfway through and have arrived at the protagonist of this cycling adventure: Postel Abbey.

Here, 900 years ago, the Premonstratensians already chose a life of silence and simplicity amid the Kempen forests. We pay those special residents a short visit. Once we pass the white entrance gate, we step into an oasis of peace. On a short walk, we discover the assets of this abbey. In the abbey shop, we find power food for the road or for at home: artisan cheese, bread, beer and speculoos.

With that well-filled backpack, we continue on our way. A billiard-level path leads us past forests and open fields to a car-free cycle path along the canal. The contrast between open nature and the vibrancy of waterfront businesses is extraordinary.

And so we paddle on again, towards the end of our route. We cruise through the greenery, back along the Kempen Lakes. There we find a cosy spot to relax. In our backpack we find some goodies, picked up from the Postel fathers. A lovely quiet end to an invigorating bike ride.