Blauwe Kamerroute

A fall ride: the Blauwe Kamerroute.

The station is at Ede (though it's called 'Ede-Wageningen'). You can rent touring bikes for €7.50 there (shop closes at 7pm), and OV-Fiets bikes are available 24 hours.

Antwerp → Bergen op Zoom

76 cyclists so far today

Though I'd originally planned to take the train from Antwerp back to Amsterdam, I changed my plan and decided to cycle up to Bergen op Zoom, the Dutch town near the border, then catch an NS train from there.

Antwerp

Dageraadplaats, Antwerp

After yesterday's intense ride, today, Tuesday, I'm taking it easy in Antwerp, rediscovering the city. This is at least my third visit since I moved to Amsterdam and I'm starting to love the place. I could easily live here. I like the trams that lumber through the streets, the Jews on bicycles. It seems a less self-conscious place than Amsterdam.

Schilde route

Albertkanaal

Today, Monday, the weather is splendid and I'm doing the Schilde route: "fietsen door de groene gemeenten rond Antwerpen." This will take me through the towns of Schilde, Schoten, Brasschat and Willekom. Right off the bat (kp 3 → 15) I'm going through the large park called the Rivierenhof, with fields, gardens, woods, a lake with swans, acorns dropping, and a small castle. A fair number of fietsers out to enjoy the weather. It is as delightful as anything Holland has to offer.

Ghent → Antwerp

Ghent

It was a long exhausting journey to Ghent via the LF-2, which, though it appeared to be the most straightforward route from Terneuzen, actually takes a substantial eastern loop before heading for that city. Fortunately the signage was good and I cycled along a succession of tree-lined paths through countryside, finally reaching Ghent at dusk. I spent a couple of rainy days in the lively university town, sightseeing, staying at the home of my friend Wim.

Zeeland ➤ Vlaanderen pt 1

Vlissingen, Zeeland

On my way to Middelburg for a fietstocht to Belgium.

kp 85 -> 93 -> 92 -> 90
Now near a place called Ritthem, a short distance east of Vlissingen. The  trail runs along the northern bank of the Westerschelde (the mouth of the Schelde river from Antwerp), and all the way big container ships and freighters ply the waters. Factories and chemical refineries define the far shore, but this side is a nature reserve with some fine beaches, such as this spot with patches of sand beneath trees fronted by swamp with views of the ships. It is 7km to Middelburg via the LF-13.