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Between Scheldt and 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 on the Donkmeer. The icing on the cake is the crossing with the ferry at Appels, from where we set course again to Dendermonde along the banks of both rivers.

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 giant parade Katuit, in which guild giants Indian, Mars and Goliath are carried through the city. Traditions to be proud of, because the beguinage, the belfry and the procession have World Heritage status. During the First World War, the city had a hard time. During the advance through Belgium, the German army completely reduced the center to ashes. Today, Dendermonde is the most swinging of all Dender cities: the Flanders Jazz Center and the Honky Tonk Jazz Club have been established names within the European jazz scene for more than forty years.

The specialty in Scheldeland is eel, and you can tell by the many eel houses along this route. However, Dendermonde is a city apart. Here you eat Dendermondse kop, a local delicacy based on pork belly and succulent meat from beef and pork head, which is best enjoyed on a slice of brown bread with a thin layer of mustard. Less adventurous, but just as tasty, is Dendermondse Witten, a good"meat\\\" local rabbit, marinated in regional beer, for example a Vicar Generaal, a double top-fermented beer from the Dendermonde brewery Dilewyns.