Cycling along the port of Antwerp

You may not immediately think of cycling when you think of the port of Antwerp, but more and more enthusiasts are crossing this area on their steel horses. They enjoy the vibe of the port authority, the Scheldt and the small-scale nature reserves.

Harbor dock
The route starts at Bistro de Neus. Grab a nice terrace here before you cycle into the Opstal Valley: a small-scale nature reserve with open water, reed marsh and forest. You pass Reigershof Castle, a country estate that dates from the seventeenth century. Cycling through the harbor docks you will experience the characteristic activity of one of the largest world ports. On the other side of the road you will soon see the Galgeschoor, a bird-rich mudflat and salt marsh area. What a contrast!

Fort Lillo
In the Scheldt harbor there are still several former forts that served as protection against the Spanish, such as the sixteenth-century Fort Lillo. There is a small, cozy residential area within the rampart walls. Cycling along the Scheldt you look out over the rippling water, on the other side are polders, groves and residential areas. To the right of the village of Hoevenen you cycle past Het Rood, a forest at the transition from the polders to the Kempen. What a change!