The best traffic-free bike rides around Merelbeke

If the tourist information point is open, be sure to pop in and chat with the friendly hostess. You can also taste or buy a Boembeke Luiwerk. Check out the route on Enjoying on 2 Wheels for more information about this beer.

The Makegemse Bos is a beautiful, unspoiled natural area. It's actually a collective name for nine forests. Here you'll find diverse tree and animal species, such as salamanders, birds, and bats.

A steep, but fun little climb in Dikkelvenne

Berlinde is a toponym and refers to 'berre' or barre linde. So there used to be a dry linden or one without leaves at this location. In 1623, Jan De Croock was paid for making a tree chapel. The stone chapel came after a petition from 1670 by Jan Eeghers, mayor of Laarne. An extension on the south side in 1774 gave the chapel its current form with an entrance portal and rood screen. Many parts of the interior are still authentic, such as the joinery and carpentry of the entrance door, the baluster railing of the rood screen and the plastered vault. The current bell tower replaces an older one. On the other side of the chapel is a cozy café with a terrace (De Berre Linde, formerly café De Kapelle).

beautiful mill visible when entering Balegem

Zwalmmolen or Ten Bergemolen, one of the five preserved watermills on the Zwalmbeek in Zwalm. Already mentioned in 1040 and belonging to the Ghent Saint Peter's Abbey until the French Revolution. Originally a corn and oil watermill, used as a grain mill from 1891 to 1964. Purchased by the Provincial Government in 1991 together with the miller's house opposite. The restoration is still in preparation. Iron lock with crank and rack with cogwheel, in 1981 installation of automatic valve weir. Watermill with iron overshot wheel. Mill building under two parallel saddle roofs (tiles) and an extension under a lean-to roof, probably from the 19th century. Painted and anchored brick facade with arched windows with iron rod division. Rectangular door with loading door above it. Similar doors in right extension with inside stairs to upper floor. Roof overhang on renewed consoles. On roof ridge, weather vane with horse and year 1875, also year of sale of the mill to F. Vandermeensbrugge. Intact 19th century mill mechanism. On the grinding floor, square ash pit surrounded by white painted brick wall bordered with wooden beams, equipped with large cast iron spur wheel and three star wheels and light system with hand wheels; three flour bins; stone bed supported by wooden beams. Operating mechanism with rack and pinion system of the unloading lock. In room behind, three flour chutes and bins for roller grinding chair above. On stone loft, gallows and three pairs of millstones in wooden stone boxes with wooden rings, roller mill chair or cylinder mill, so-called "Midget Maxima Roller Mill N 194", from 1930 fed by a plancher with eccentric drive, furthermore horizontal shafts with cast iron belt wheels and fork wheel, in the loft oat crusher.

Go with the flow

Quiet cycle path, only busy in good weather, with regular cyclists and walkers.