Dendermonde Cycle Route

Between the Scheldt and the Dender lies a beautiful piece of nature where the water is never far away. We cycle past locks and bridges, wet meadows and atmospheric villages, and stretch our calves on a terrace at the Donkmeer. The icing on the cake is the crossing with the ferry at Appels, from where we set course again along the banks of both rivers to Dendermonde.

The city where the Dender flows into the Scheldt breathes history. The medieval buildings on and around the Grote Markt bear witness to a rich past that lives on in folkloric events such as the ten-yearly Ros Beiaardommegang and the annual giants' procession Katuit, in which guild giants Indiaan, Mars and Goliath are carried through the city. Traditions to be proud of, because the beguinage, the belfry and the procession all have World Heritage status. During the First World War, the city suffered greatly. During the advance through Belgium, the German army completely destroyed the city centre. Today, Dendermonde is the most swinging of all the Dender cities: the Jazz Centrum Vlaanderen and the Honky Tonk Jazz Club have been established names in the European jazz scene for more than forty years.

The specialty in Scheldeland is eel, and you will notice this at the many eel houses along this route. Dendermonde, however, is a city apart. Here you can eat Dendermondse kop, a local delicacy based on pork belly and juicy meat from beef and pig's head, which is best enjoyed on a slice of brown bread with a thin layer of mustard. Less adventurous, but at least as tasty, is Dendermondse Witten, a well-\\\"meated\\\" local rabbit, marinated in regional beer, for example a Vicaris Generaal, a double high-fermentation beer from the Dendermonde brewery Dilewyns.