Eeklo, Brassevelde and Oosteeklo

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, your starting point for today. 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 a 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! You cycle through a rural area to the Boerekreek of St-Jan-in-Eremo. This is where the battle against the sea took place in the Middle Ages. Dikes were built, storm surges swept everything away. Higher and sturdier dikes were built, villages were built and ultimately the battle against the sea was won. Small and large creeks dug out by the turbulent sea remained as silent witnesses. These lakes in the fertile polder landscape form a unique panorama. The Boerenkreek is the largest in the Meetjesland. Through a number of larger and small hamlets you arrive at the Bardelaere Museum, where you become acquainted with the old Meetjesland. It's worth taking a break here! With more than 15,000 collection items divided over 105 different professions and spread over approximately 1,200 square meters of exhibition space, there is certainly plenty to see. Housewares from earlier times and craft objects are part of this unique collection. Outside the three museum rooms you can view a mini shipyard, a weather station, a war bunker and a fairytale forest. A local cafe with terrace has been set up in the old farmhouse. A beautiful route leads you back to Eeklo, where you can grab a beer before returning home.