Countryside is just a step away
You are spending a week or more in Brussels ? Or you actually live in the capital city? You have decided to take just a day to do some sport and breathe fresh air from the surrounding flemish countryside ? This page provides you with a suggestion : get your bike ready, and engage on a cycling round-trip between Brussels and Leuven. It is approximately 30 kilometers each way (between the centers of both cities), pretty flat, meaning it’ll take you 2 hours to get it done, even if you are an amateur. To enjoy Leuven once you are there, I advise you to go early in the morning, like 8 am, so that you have enough time for lunch, walk a bit in Leuven, see some landmarks then come back.
Steps along the road
The path (called HST-route, number « F3 ») is very well marked, with precise indications all along the way, which you can not miss. There are seven interim points between Brussels and Leuven : Sint-Stevens-Woluwé , Zaventem, Nosseghem, Kortenberg, Erps-Kwerps, Veltem and Herent (everytime at the village's station). Starting point in Brussels is the Evere cemetary, entry gate to the Woluweveld. You can have a precise view of the path itself here.
Go for a run through Woluweveld
Lange Wagenstraat, 1932 Zaventem, BelgiumOnce you have left the Woluweveld behind you, this clearly-marked cycling path remains close to the high-speed railway line all along, between Brussels and Leuven. So, making sure you never go to far from the line is a good way not to get lost (we never know 😊). Very early on the way to Leuven, you will approach the runways of the Zaventem National airport (see picture on the right: landing lights). Afterwards, you will be in the countryside, going across villages, leaving a village for the next one, always 3 to 5 kilometers away.
The villages you cross, along the HTS-route
Zaventem station
1930 Zaventem, BelgiqueNosseghem
Nossegem, 1930 Zaventem, BelgiqueKortenberg station
Stationsplein, 3070 Kortenberg, BelgiqueErps-Kwerps station
Kouterstraat, 3071 Kortenberg, BelgiqueVeltem station
Stationsplein, 3020 Herent, BelgiqueHerent station
Mechelsesteenweg, 3020 Herent, BelgiqueWhat to do in Leuven, within a couple of hours
Leuven is a an old university town, with a pretty relaxed atmosphere in summer time, rather busy during the year, that can go completely wild and crazy when academic year starts, as of September. Like in many other belgian towns, you may want to wander around the main square, admire the city hall, have lunch in one of the numerous brasseries or restaurants, or just relax. There are plenty of activities to do in Leuven, for which you can find suggestions here below.
Stadhuis van Leuven
Grote Markt 9, 3000 Leuven, BelgiumGroot Begijnhof in Leuven
Groot Begijnhof, 3000 Leuven, BelgiumM-museum in Leuven
Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 28, 3000 Leuven, BelgiumAbdij van Park
Abdij van Park, 7, 3001 Heverlee, BelgiumSint-Pieterskerk in Leuven
Grote Markt 1, 3000 Leuven, BelgiumKruidtuin in Leuven
Kruidtuin, Kapucijnenvoer 30, 3000 Leuven, BelgiumWant to plan a trip here? Talk to AI travel assistant Maya.
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The author
Nicolas Casula
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