"Make sure to go cycling along the Meuse too!"

Whenever I see a group of cycle tourists looking for the right junction, I feel the urge to help. I always tell them: “Make sure to go cycling along the Meuse!” Because that area is absolutely stunning.

I tell them about the konik horses — wild horses that roam the green banks of the river. Then I see their eyes widen: “Wild horses?”
That’s when I show them a photo of my bike, with almost a horse sitting on the saddle. At that moment, they’re hooked — just like I was. And rightly so. It’s wonderful cycling along the Meuse. I ride from Uikhoven to Kotem, and all the way to the charming village of Leut. Beautiful.

"From the moment I leave home, I just follow my handlebars."

We cyclists are really spoiled here. As soon as I leave my house, I just follow my handlebars and see where I end up. Whatever junction comes next, there's always a beautiful route waiting for you.
Since the arrival of the pontoon bridge ‘Cycling between the Mine Terrils’, it’s become even more spectacular.
If you start at junction 502, you cycle past Terhills — the main gateway to Hoge Kempen National Park — and head toward the floating bridge. Suddenly you’re riding over the water, surrounded by terrils. After soaking in those views, the path leads you through the woods. Maasmechelen is a wooded region, and exploring it by bike is simply perfect.

As I said earlier — and you’ll see it too — I’m incredibly proud.
That pride also comes from the fact that I get to contribute to our cycling network. Since last year, I’ve become the official godfather of not one, but two cycling routes.

That means I’m connected to the province and help inspect the routes: I check whether the paths are in good condition and if the signs are clearly visible. If something’s wrong, I report it — and most of the time, it’s fixed within three days.
That way, everyone can continue to enjoy our beautiful routes to the fullest.

It might sound small to some, but I’m genuinely proud to cycle here.