Maldegem, Eeklo and Sint Joris

Your starting point today is the 3-Flanders point Maldegem, on the border of East, West and Zeeland Flanders. Maldegem is located near the art cities of Bruges and Ghent, near the shopping paradise of Sluis and near the coast. But Maldegem is above all a vibrant municipality with a wide range of tourist attractions. Explore the beautiful landscapes, go back to the Middle Ages in Middelburg and enjoy a wonderful rural bike ride! You will soon pass the Steam Center. Here you can take a ride on the steam train or take a look at the museum. The Steam Center has the largest number of steam locomotives in Flanders, so it's worth taking a look around! With this route you will discover the Meetjesland, a special region. In the northern Creeks area you cycle through extensive polders and along quiet creeks and canals. In the southern Houtland you walk through beautiful forests and along quiet watercourses. Anyone who wants to experience a healthy outdoor life will definitely find what they are looking for in Meetjesland. The bustling center of Meetjesland is Eeklo. Anyone who visits Eeklo will find themselves at the entrance gates of the provincial domain Het Leen, the Huysmanshoeve, the Heldenpark, the marina and numerous museums. The town itself is also worth seeing. Eeklo received city rights as early as 1240, when the city belonged to the counts of Flanders, who had a hunting estate in Eeklo. Within the county of Flanders, Eeklo was part of the Brugse Vrije. It was the cloth weaving industry that gave the new town prestige at that time. During the religious wars of the 16th century, Eeklo ended up in the front line between the Protestant north and the Catholic south and heavy destruction was caused. The population fled and for a while Eeklo was virtually deserted. This is one of the reasons why the city still has few medieval buildings. After the pacification, Eeklo gradually revived and the textile manufacturing business was resumed. In the 19th century, this formed the basis for an industrialization process, which paralleled the rise of Eeklo to the capital of the Meetjesland, after the separation of the Netherlands. The neo-Gothic buildings and rows of workers' houses that still determine the street scene date from this period. In Eeklo you will come across another nice museum: discover the secret of real gin in the Jeneverhuis Van Hoorebeke, where the eventful history of this tasty drink in the Eeklo region comes back to life. Beautiful sets, authentic documents and a fascinating slide montage tell the story of a thriving company that values tradition and craftsmanship. Listen, watch and discover how the love for gin was passed on from father to son. Unravel the secret of its full aroma and put it to the test when you say goodbye! A beautiful rural route leads you back to Maldegem, where you can have a nice beer before returning home.