Spring is upon us and that implies multiple things. Firstly, it’ll finally be the time of the year again to spend a night on a terrace outside with friends, without feeling obliged to get a fire going because otherwise you might actually freeze while talking. Secondly, nature will come into bloom again, making those weekly walks a lot more colorful and uplifting. Thirdly, we’ll finally be able to get some natural vitamin D into our system once again, chasing away the winter blues one sunray at a time. And fourthly, it’ll be time to get our bicycles out of storage and out for a spin.
The bicycle might well be one of human’s most fun inventions when it comes to ecology. They’re simple, not too expensive (of course, depending on which model you choose) and they’ll get your pretty much everywhere if you’ve got the time. When it’s a normal week and we have to go to work or school, there’s nothing like a fresh bike ride to start the day and to ditch the traffic jams. And afterwards, it’s the perfect way to wind down and let the wind take all your troubles away.
EuroVelo 5
Yet cycling can also be a great way to spend your holidays. Some destinations are of course more cycle friendly than others, yet thanks to the EuroVelo routes developed by the European Cycling Network, it’s very easy to plan your cycling trip within Europe. In total, there are 17 routes spanning over 90.000 kilometers and crossing country borders like they were not even there. Of course you could decide to cycle a whole route in one go, yet it’s also a great idea to incorporate parts of those routes in your usual holidays or even in your daily life.
During the ‘Fiets- en Wandelbeurs’ in Utrecht, one route in particular managed to get away with the title of cycling route of the year and, luckily for us, that route goes straight through Brussels. The EuroVelo 5 route is quite special as it will take you from the British city Canterbury all the way to Brindisi on the Italian coast – speaking of a route full of surprises. According to EuroVelo, within the Belgian border, “the route will introduce you to the rich natural, architectural, cultural and brewing heritage of the country”.
If you’re as enthused as we are and you want to discover the Belgian part of the EuroVelo 5 route for yourself, you can find the itinerary online. Aside from EuroVelo 5, four other routes pass through Belgium as well.
