Paling cycling route

Temse is known for construction: ships and bridges, specifically. Between 1829 and 1994, the internationally renowned Boel shipyard was located here, where large ocean-going vessels rolled off the slipway. The famous Temse bridge over the Scheldt River connects the provinces of East Flanders and Antwerp. It is one of the longest bridges in Belgium. The original bridge, which was destroyed in WWII, was designed by Gustave Eiffel. Hunger and thirst are preferably quenched on Wilford Quay at one of the many restaurants overlooking the water.

The castle Marnix de Sainte-Aldegonde, also called the castle of Bornem, is located on the Old Scheldt and has undergone several transformations over the centuries. It was named after the noble family Marnix of Sainte-Aldegonde. Philip, the most important scion and presumed composer of the national anthem, never lived there himself, but a permanent exhibition on his life is running today at the castle. The remarkable building is rich in various art treasures. The castle is open for visits on 15 August, the last two Sundays of August and the first two Sundays of September.

In the shadow of Weert's St Anna's Church, chef Axel and his team serve up some classic dishes for both big and small appetites. For the descriptions on the menu alone, the Old Town Hall is definitely worth a stop. The house speciality is grilled steak, but you are also welcome for a beer or a pancake in the stylish interior or on the spacious terrace.

'We're not kidding you, we sell delicious eels,' a sign on the façade says in block letter, and you know right away what the restaurant De Groenendijk specialises in. However, you can also head there for regional dishes and a range of suggestions, always including a number of vegetarian and vegan options. In summer weather, the garden chairs are taken out and you eat outside on the terrace in front of the establishment.

The Lippenbroek in Hamme used to be a small polder along the Scheldt. Since 2006, it has been serving as a test area for the Sigma Plan. The principle of a controlled flood plain with tidal action was applied here for the first time, in order to monitor the combination of water safety and the development of tidal nature from close by. This world first attracted a lot of visitors from both home and abroad. The measurement data is collated annually into a report and provides a lot of information for other Sigma projects.

The inhabitants of Hamme gratefully used the ferry service to buy fish in Mariekerke and Sint-Amands. After all, eels were eagerly fished there. Today, only Mariekerke bears the title of a fishing village. It is an important centre for the Flemish eel trade and the setting for the annual Fish and Folklore Festival in late June. In nearby Sint-Amands, along the Scheldt River, you pass by the mausoleum of writer Emile Verhaeren (1855-1916). Next to his birthplace is a museum dedicated to the man. In Sint-Amands, of course, you can taste some eel and fish dishes, from homely (De Veerman) to refined (Den Amandus and Café d'O). Café Emile V, on the other hand, in Sint-Amands targets thirsty passers-by with 180 types of beers.

The King Albert dyke, amid the polders, was built after the 1928 flood and inaugurated by King Albert I in 1932. The dyke has six passages or channels, which it was possible to seal with oak beams. At node 51, you just cycle through them. At the end of the dyke stands the chapel of Saint Rita, built in 1946 as a thanksgiving to protect the neighbourhood from flooding. Bistro Jachthuis around the corner offers a full menu, as well as a pancake or a summer ice cream sundae.