The best traffic-free bike rides around Zomergem

wide view of meadows from the roof plateau

The Belfort is located next to the town hall on the Markt square. The Belfort is relatively young. It was built in 1932 next to the town hall dating from 1240 and is also the youngest Belfort on the Unesco World Heritage list. The Belfort is 35 metres high and symbolises urban freedom and democracy and was erected in memory of the victims of the First World War. The Belfort is not accessible to the public. Source: https://www.eeklo.be/belfort

The Lieve is a historic inland shipping canal that had its heyday in the 13th and 14th centuries. The oldest canal in Europe was dug between 1251-1269. It is the first artificial waterway that connected Ghent directly with the sea via the Zwin near Damme. Historical context: Start of works: In 1251, Margaret II, Countess of Flanders, granted permission to dig the canal. Original purpose: Initially, the route ran towards Aardenburg, but due to the silting up of that route, a branch to Damme was soon chosen. Completion: After 18 years of digging, the first ships carrying goods sailed from Ghent to the North Sea in 1269. Economic importance: The canal was crucial for Ghent's woolen industry, as it gave the city an independent export route that did not run via the Scheldt (under the control of the then enemy). Today, the Lieve has largely disappeared or been incorporated into other canals such as the Schipdonk Canal, but in the center of Ghent (near the Gravensteen), the original bed is still visible.

The Lieve is a historic inland waterway canal that was dug between 1251 and 1269 to connect Ghent with Damme (originally Aardenburg). In the 13th and 14th centuries, the canal experienced its golden age. Even when the Zwin began to silt up in the 14th and 15th centuries, and later new waterways were built — such as the Sasse Vaart in the 16th century and the Ghent-Bruges canal in 1613-1614 — the Lieve retained its original function, until the beginning of the 18th century. Today, parts of the Lieve are still visible. In Ghent, Evergem, and Lievegem, the canal still exists in some places as an open watercourse. In the municipality of Damme, the route is mainly recognizable as a wide strip in the landscape.

De Lieve is a historic inland waterway canal that was dug between 1251 and 1269 from Ghent to Damme, originally Aardenburg. The period of prosperity is situated in the 13th and 14th centuries. Despite the silting up of the Zwin (early 14th and early 15th centuries), the digging of the Sasse Vaart in the mid-16th century, and the digging of the Ghent - Bruges canal in 1613-1614, it retained its original function until the beginning of the 18th century. In Ghent, Evergem, and Lievegem, the Lieve has been preserved as an open watercourse in sections. The route within the municipality of Damme has been preserved as a wide strip in the landscape. Source: https://www.lievegem.be/de-lieve

The building stands alone and was built as a town hall and justice of the peace. It is located on the narrow west side of the Market Square, on the corner with Kerkstraat, opposite the facade of the lower-lying Sint-Martinuskerk. The current building replaces an older town hall from 1870 that stood on the east side of the Market Square and was destroyed by shelling in 1918. The town hall was built in 1923, based on a 1920 design by architect Valentin Vaerwyck. Its style is neo-traditional and strongly inspired by an earlier town hall that the same architect designed for the “Modern Dorp” at the 1913 World Exhibition in Ghent. This building looks larger and more official, partly due to the high base and the double staircase leading to the central entrance. It is made of brick and natural stone and has a rectangular shape. At the back, in the middle, a rectangular staircase protrudes.

Check the ferry schedule in advance: - During May, June, July, August, and September, and the Easter holidays: 7 days a week - from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM (or until sunset on shorter days of the year). - From October to April (excluding the Easter holidays) only on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays: same hours as above. The landing stage for one of these ferries is located along Dijkweg in Afsnee, near the St. John the Baptist Church on the right bank. A crossing is definitely worth the effort, as not only the Afsnee church but also the rectory and the village itself are protected gems. Further on, towards Sint-Denijs-Westrem and Sint-Martens-Latem, there are numerous hiking and cycling opportunities.

Beautiful bike ride, well-prepared paths, not busy