The best traffic-free bike rides in De Linie

The Sinaaibrug is one of the more recent bridges over the Moervaart. It was only built in 1984. Therefore, it is one of the few bridges that did not require a thorough restoration as part of the Flemish Waterway's Integral Bridge Plan Moervaart. The five bridges protected as monuments, dating from the interwar period and repaired and partially renewed shortly after the Second World War: the Overledebrug and the Kalvebrug in Lochristi, the Terwestbrug, the Dambrug and the Coudenbornbrug in Lokeren. Source: vlaamsewaterweg.be

The Dambrug bridge dates from the interwar period and was restored and partially renewed around 1945 after war damage. Originally, the bridge was manually operated, but it now has hydraulic operation. Source: Inventaris Onroerend Erfgoed

On Friday, April 5, 1867, the Spletterenbrug was officially opened. Between Moerbeke and Lokeren, trains stopped in Daknam and Eksaarde. In Moerbeke, travelers could transfer to railway line 77 towards Zelzate or towards Sint-Gillis-Waas. That the intention was to one day double the 9-kilometer railway line to two tracks is still visible on the Spletterenbrug. Both bridge abutments are indeed twice as wide as the bridge deck itself. It never came to that. On the contrary. The railway line suffered during both world wars, causing traffic to be suspended for months. For example, retreating German soldiers blew up the bridge at the end of World War I. Less than a year after the armistice, in September 1919, the line was already restored and trains could run on the route again. In 1940, the Belgian army, in turn, tried to slow down the German advance by destroying the bridge. The bridge was repaired again. In 1971, the last train chugged along the route. After more than a century of train traffic, the tracks were dismantled and the route was redeveloped as a cycling and walking path from Lokeren to Moerbeke. The Spletterenbrug itself was preserved and restored in 2017. The seven layers of paint were removed, and the bridge regained its original, dark gray color. Source: industriecultuur.be

Before the throne of King Nobel stands Reynaert the Fox to the left. He was summoned multiple times, after accusations by various animals, especially by Isegrim the Wolf and Bruun the Bear. Cunning as he is, Reynaert always manages to escape appearing before the court. When he is nevertheless brought before the King by Grimbeert the Badger, the Fox proceeds to 'confess' and is sentenced to death. But the Fox also manages to cleverly escape this sentence with a fanciful story about a hidden treasure. Reynaert is granted a pardon, after which he departs on a 'pilgrimage'. He escapes the justice system once again.

Daknambrug in Daknam, a sub-municipality of Lokeren. This charming swing bridge over the Durme is located at the site of a former ferry crossing on the old Lille-Tilburg highway. Such a ferry served as a bridge to transport people, livestock, horses, and vehicles. The current swing bridge has replaced a small wooden bridge since the 1930s. At that time, the Durme was straightened here between the confluence of the Zuidlede and Moervaart at Spletterenbrug and the bend near Middendam. In the summer, you can see the bridge keeper opening the bridge to let pleasure boats pass, sailing to or from Lokeren.

Opened on October 1, 2012, the Brug Ter Beuken provides a safe and green connection to the city center. It has since become a fixed landmark in the landscape: the beautiful red cycle and footbridge that spans the Durme at the end of Vijgenstraat. The bridge is 21m long. Source: axiradio.be

In Daknam, on a small piece of land, everyone can imagine themselves to be a king for a while. The throne of King Nobel, a figure from the epic of Reinaert the Fox, is here along the cycle and walking path. Here you can feel like a king for a while.

It's always nice when a tunnel with Street Art adds colour to your passage.