RJR Saturday Antwerp

The area around Antwerp is not only characterized by the waterways that lead to the port of Antwerp, but the region also has beautiful nature reserves. The tranquility that prevails here, as you cycle from village to town, is striking and closely resembles Dutch nature reserves, although there are fewer heathlands. The starting point of the route is in Brasschaat, a city with more than 37,000 inhabitants and known for the relatively large number of wealthy Dutch people who have settled in this place. Before you cycle out of the city, there is a good chance that a number of beautiful homes will catch your eye, but you will also see remnants of Brasschaat's rich military past. For example, the anti-tank ditch, the Fort and Camp of Brasschaat and many bunkers are still well preserved. A number of bat colonies hibernate in these bunkers. When you leave the city behind you, the route also takes you through the Peerdsbos, among other things. This nature reserve is the oldest known walking forest and was already referred to as "Peertsbusch" in 1434. The area is part of the larger Bremdonck domain, which was donated to the Gasthuis of Antwerp by Isabella van Breda in 1280. It consisted of fields, meadows and forest, which were used for timber and firewood. Over the course of history, large parts of the original domain were sold, causing the Peerdsbos to shrink to a forest of approximately 148 hectares. There are small open spaces and meadows between the trees. Since 1935, the forest has been accessible to the general public and serves as a recreational area where many come to seek peace and quiet. An even smaller forest that the route passes through is the Drijhoeksbos (Driehoeksbos), which is located between Schilde and Halle. The tree species that mainly grows on the 65 hectares that form the Drijhoeksbos is the Scots pine. Much more variation in the forest is difficult to achieve due to the poor, acidic sandy soil. The area was named after the Den Drijhoek farm that stood there, but in the past there were many farms in this area. The remains of some remain, but the anti-tank ditch that took shape between 1937 and 1939 is better preserved. These unique elements in the landscape provide the observant cyclist with beautiful glimpses into the past.