The best cycling routes around Herent

Since 1763, Cafe´ Maritime has been the name of the lock house along the Leuven-Dijle canal, already a cafe-restaurant back then. It is the only 18th-century lock house along the canal that has been preserved, along with the one at Zennegat. This protected monument in the classicist style dates from the period of Prince Charles of Lorraine, the Austrian Governor-General of the Netherlands. He dug the first spade for "the canal" on February 9, 1750. This was done with a silver spade, after which about 500 workers completed the 30-kilometer-long canal in 2 years. It was filled with water on December 21, 1752. The considerable water level difference was managed by 3 locks: Kampenhout, Mechelen, and 1 at Zennegat. After a number of dike and lock breaches, the task of the Mechelen lock had to be taken over by building 3 new locks: Boortmeerbeek, Battel, and Tildonk, which were ready in 1763. The lock in Tildonk is of the "buiksas" type, so named after the semicircular indentations in the walls. The walls of the 18th-century lock are still practically entirely authentic everywhere. It is a double lock with 2 consecutive basins of the "buik" type, from which the intermediate gates were removed (for long ships). Operation was previously done using capstans, capstan winches. Along with the lock, the lock keeper's house was also built, intended not only as a dwelling but also as a cafe, restaurant, and hotel. In the beautiful vaulted cellars, the draft horses could rest. Skippers and fishermen could get a drink and a bite there. Local residents came to pick up their stock of mussels, which were transported by horse-drawn barge from Zennegat via Mechelen. After standing "dry" along the water for half a century, this inn was restored and reopened by Brouwerij Palm during the summer of the millennium year 2000. The monumental wooden staircase and a beautiful tiled floor are the first eye-catchers, soon followed by the bow of the late "Balboa" which serves as a bar. The inauguration of this historically classified monument took place on May 29, 2000, by Steve Stevaert, then vice-president of the Flemish government and supervisory minister of NV Zeekanaal.

de sigma-werken, with the connection of the old meanders!

Over the dike of the Vaart...

Batteliek is a Mechelen-based microbrewery, micro-distillery, and lemonade factory in a former church. It is a wondrous place where alchemy and industry became intertwined. Let your senses be stimulated by the experimental kitchen and drinks, where new flavors are discovered through trial and error.

Ideal for speeding up (if the wind is favorable)

The 2-meter-high wooden statue of Father Damien was placed on the west side of the Damien Bridge on August 22, 2013, and was donated by Lizette Cresens from Haacht. The statue was made by an artist from Wolfsdonk. Source: https://www.tremelo.be/product/2172/15-standbeeld-damiaan-damiaanbrug The bicycle and pedestrian bridge itself was put into use in 2012 and is located near the Damien Museum in Ninde (at the end of the road). The two Dijle dikes that are connected by it are called the Pater Damiaandijk (on the Ninde side) and the Schipstrekkersdijk (the Haacht side). Near the bridge, the Grote Laak flows into the Dijle. That's a river that splits off from the Demer near Aarschot and is also known as the Laak and formerly the Meetshovense Laak.

Nice quiet place for cycling.

The Stella Artois brewery is located in the heart of Leuven. In the city registers of Leuven, we find a record of excise duties for the Den Hoorn brewery as early as 1366. It was at this brewery that Sébastien Artois became master brewer on June 13, 1708. His name thus became inextricably linked to the brewery and the city of Leuven. In 1926, the Artois brewery launched a Christmas beer, following the tradition of the time. It was called "Stella," the Latin word for "star." The beer was such a success that the brewer decided to market it permanently. Our Stella Artois still exists today. The horn and the year 1366 are still mentioned in the logo, references to the beer's origins. Click on the map at https://ab-inbev.be/ with the breweries, select the one for Leuven, and you will find this text with a photo and directions to the brewery.