RJR Saturday Antwerp

The area around Antwerp is not only characterised by the waterways that lead to the port of Antwerp, but the region also has beautiful nature reserves. The tranquillity that reigns here, as you cycle from village to city, is striking and is very similar to the 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 here. Before you cycle out of the city, there is a good chance that a number of beautiful houses will catch your eye, but you will also see remnants of the rich military past that Brasschaat has. For example, the anti-tank ditch, the Fort and the Camp of Brasschaat and many bunkers have been 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. This nature reserve is the oldest known walking forest and was already referred to in 1434 as the"Peertsbusch\\\". The area is part of the larger Bremdonck domain, which was donated to the Gasthuis van Antwerpen by Isabella van Breda in 1280. It consisted of fields, meadows and forest, which was 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. Between the trees are small open spaces and meadows. 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 is the Drijhoeksbos (Triangle Forest), which lies between Schilde and Halle. The tree species that mainly grows on the 65 hectares that make up 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 have remained, but the anti-tank ditch that was formed between 1937 and 1939 has been better preserved. These unique elements in the landscape give the attentive cyclist beautiful glimpses into the past.