The best road cycling routes around Diepenbeek

The bicycle bridge consists of 6 bridge sections, which together contain more than 500 tons of steel. The largest bridge section is 44 meters long and weighs 130 tons. The complete bicycle bridge is 200 meters long and 6 meters wide. You cycle or walk 10 meters above the water surface.

Between Diepenbeek and Hasselt, the F70 cycle highway, also known as the Demerroute, runs along the bank of the Demer river. This cycle highway, which is under construction, connects Hasselt with Bilzen. When completed, the route will be 21 km long. It is already largely passable, but diversions are currently in place in a few locations.

in exceptionally warm weather, lovely in the shade

At the highest point of Helshoven, you can now enjoy a breathtaking view over the Haspengouw landscape. Artist Frits Jeuris has created a unique work of art from dozens of felled fruit trees from the area. “Helsh(ea)ven”, a wooden work of art consisting of 90 standard cherry trees, each fifty years old, was hit by the cherry plague virus at the end of 2016, a contagious plant disease that causes small fruits on cherries. Now the felled trees are getting a second life. The work of art symbolizes the dynamic landscape of Haspengouw.

Here we mainly find meadows and grasslands, interspersed with valuable groves. Intensive management through deforestation and mowing has restored the rich flora of yesteryear. Currently, the following plants can be found among others: wood anemone, dandelion, lily of the valley, cranesbill, muskroot, lady's mantle, and Jacob's ladder. Birds are also abundant here: tawny owl, little owl, lapwing, chiffchaff, hoopoe, willow warbler, bluethroat, reed bunting, and many others. The area is freely accessible, but there are no marked hiking trails.

'Fietsen door de bomen' in National Park Bosland is located at junction 272 of the cycle network in nature reserve Pijnven, which is itself part of the dense forest landscape of National Park Bosland. The poles supporting the cycle path symbolize the straight trunks of the pine trees in the forest where it is located. This ensures that the construction blends beautifully into the surroundings. The forests of Pijnven consist mainly of conifers that were planted decades ago for timber production for mining. However, with the closure of the Limburg coal mines, these trees were never felled.

The cycle path through the water leads cyclists over a 212-meter-long and three-meter-wide concrete path, with water at eye level on both sides. Swans and other waterfowl swim along the banks, curiously watching the cyclists. Since its opening, interest in this unique cycle path has been enormous. On average, 800 visitors per day explore this unforgettable part of the Limburg cycle network, with peaks on Saturdays and Sundays, and on some days even up to 5,000 cyclists.

This section, together with the water lock and the outer bailey, belongs to the oldest parts: in the Apostles' House, remains of the late Gothic ordinance from the second half of the 16th century from the building campaign of Land Commander Wijnandt van Brijel have been preserved. The complex is located at the highest point of the domain, on the eastern side of the commandery. Seven avenues converge at the gate, symbolizing the Seven Sorrows and Joys of Mary. To the right of the gatehouse was the now disappeared Apostles' House; it was an L-shaped building of two storeys, with a chapel on the ground floor, and twelve rooms for needy men, hence the name Apostles' House; late Gothic core from the second half of the 16th century, enlarged and adapted in 1716-1726, under Commander Damian Hugo von Schönborn, as indicated by a facade stone. After World War II, the Apostles' House slowly deteriorated but has since been restored.