Enjoy the area around Poppel

The starting point for this international cycling tour is Poppel, located in a part of Belgium that, as it were, extends into the Netherlands. It will therefore not surprise you that this area used to be particularly popular with smugglers.

From Poppel you can walk a smugglers' route that runs up and along the border. By bike you will occasionally cross the route, for example at the border crossing at Groot-Bedaf.

The environment exudes great tranquility. Far away from the big cities you will often find countryside with beautiful farms. The town of Alphen provides a pleasant break. Although it is not large, there is still plenty to see that reminds us of the past of this border town. You will find the Alphen Regional Historical Museum there. This is located in a picturesque white church that used to belong to a Reformed congregation. The church was a rare sight in this Catholic region. Mainly the customs and military police personnel who had to guard the border lived here.

Once you have passed Alphen, turn to the Belse line. This is an old railway route that once served for passenger and freight transport, but was completely demolished in the 1970s. You start following this track in Alphen, from an elongated white-painted building that is reminiscent of the former station. This is also the only structure on this route that still has a railway or tramway history. The route goes through wonderfully quiet farmlands, fields and along streams where no motorist can reach. Only at Riel do you turn off the track again and follow the 'normal' road towards Goirle.

You ignore the city and follow the route through a wonderfully large nature reserve south of Goirle. The Regte Heide, together with the Riels Hoefke, Halve Maan, Ooijevaarsnest and Nieuwkerk, forms a contiguous nature reserve of 876 hectares, consisting of heathland, a swampy stream valley, deciduous and coniferous forests. This actually flows seamlessly into the Gorp en Roovert estate, a private estate (1200 ha) that is accessible to the public. The area is beautifully varied, with old deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests, cultivated lands, heathland, fens and the meandering Rovertse Leij over a length of five kilometers. You'll be back in Poppel before you know it.