THE FIRST INNOVATIVE CYCLING EXPERIENCE IN BELGIAN LIMBURG
At the end of April 2016, Visit Limburg opened ‘Cycling through Water’ in Bokrijk, a cycling trail that takes you through water. The trail, which is part of the Limburg cycle node network and can be found at junction 91, cuts through one of the ponds in the De Wijers nature area. With this trail, Limburg, Belgium’s premier cycling province, steps up its game as an innovative pioneer in cycling tourism. In the words of Igor Philtjens, the Limburg representative for Tourism, the President of Visit Limburg and the driving force behind the cycling project: “This cycling trail is the first in a series of innovative cycling projects that offer an enhanced experience of Limburg’s unique landscapes along the cycle node network. With this new experience, we demonstrate that Limburg continues to innovate in cycling tourism.”
What is ‘Cycling through Water’?
A unique cycling experience which enables you to ride through a pond with water on either side at eye level, making you feel as if you are riding ‘through water’. The trail is approximately 200 metres long and 3 metres wide. You can see, feel and smell the water from your bicycle! A unique experience, close to nature, which is well suited for cyclists and hikers alike. And not just for them, as bystanders also enjoy amazing views. Especially from the two vantage points, which were designed by Lens°Ass Architecten. You can follow the cycling experience on social media via the hashtag ‘#FDHW’.
Where is ‘Cycling through Water’ located?
In Bokrijk (Genk) near junction 91 of the Limburg cycle node network. Bokrijk is a 550-hectare park. It is mainly known for its open-air museum, which has a unique collection of authentic buildings, from various Flemish regions and eras. But many people also visit it for its arboretum, the open-air playground and the many cycling and hiking trails. Bokrijk is also part of the expansive pond landscape of De Wijers, a unique wetland area, with over 1,000 ponds.
Who does the project belong to?
‘Cycling through Water’ is the brainchild of Visit Limburg, the marketing organisation that supports tourism in Limburg. Its president Igor Philtjens came up with this original idea. The project was designed by Bart Lens (Lens°Ass Architecten). BuroLandschap – headed up by landscape architect Pieter Daenen – redesigned the existing pond landscape around the cycling trail. The project was developed with the Province of Limburg, Bokrijk, the Agency for Nature and Forests, the Flanders Heritage Agency and the City of Genk.
How does it go hand in hand with nature?
A concrete cycling path that is in harmony with nature may sound like a contradiction in terms. But the project is definitely a win-win situation. It benefited cycling tourism, as well as nature, the surroundings and the heritage landscape. Thanks to this project, the new forest and landscape management plan for Bokrijk was accelerated, which is a boon for the fauna and flora in the park. Because the dikes were opened up, the water in the ponds remains pure much longer, which is a good thing for amphibians and their habitats. A special passage was also built for them so that they can still move between ponds. The heritage features in De Wijers were also upgraded. The locks, which are called ‘monniken’ and which have been central to watershed management here since time immemorial, were replaced with new ones.
Why was the project built?
After the closure of the coal mines, recreational cycling tourism was one of the solutions to get Limburg back on the rails again on the economic level. That is why ‘node cycling’ was developed in 1995. Cyclists could map their own perfect route, from node to node or junction to junction. As such, Limburg pioneered cycling tourism. The province now has 2,000 kilometres of paved, safe and largely car-free cycling trails. And in the past 25 years, the cycle node network has also proven an important driver for the leisure economy. Limburg, which welcomes more than three million cycling tourists every year, is widely regarded as Belgium’s premier cycling province.
Since then, node cycling has been copied worldwide. That is why Limburg has chosen to step up its game. Igor Philtjens: “To maintain our lead, we continue to invest in the quality and maintenance of our cycle node network – along with Limburg’s 42 cities and municipalities. But we also continue to innovate: by creating better, rather than more kilometres. Because tourists are always on the lookout for an experience. That is why Visit Limburg has decided to ramp up the existing cycling network, with unique cycling experiences such as ‘Cycling through Water’.” The projects are all part of the ‘Strategisch Actieplan Limburg in het Kwadraat’ (SALK): a strategic action plan that was drawn up to relaunch Limburg’s economy after the closure of the Ford Genk car manufacturing plant in 2014, which dealt the province another serious, economic blow.
How did the idea come about?
The idea originated during a study trip to Norway, where a Visit Limburg delegation was inspired by the Norwegian Scenic Routes: carefully-designed road trip routes that introduce you to the wonders of nature, in combination with art, design and architecture. These routes take you closer to nature, in surprising ways. These landscape interventions – which never devalue it – ensure that visitors can enjoy it even more. And that’s how they came up with the idea for doing this in Limburg, albeit by bicycle. Because Limburg also has very varied landscapes and the province already had a strong image as a cycling destination. This unique combination gave rise to this initiative by Visit Limburg, to create cycling projects in harmony with their natural surroundings, which promote more interaction with the landscape while cycling.
Igor Philtjens: “This gave me the idea of building a cycling trail through water, through the treetops, underground... All in strategic and iconic locations in Limburg, with plenty of potential to increase the interaction between cyclists and the landscape. And that’s how we are continuing to build our cycle node network of the future.” And what a success it is! Because since then more than one million cyclists have already passed through ‘Cycling through Water’. In the summer of 2018, TIME Magazine even included the Limburg cycling experience in its list of the World’s 100 greatest places.
Which other cycling experiences exist?
Visit Limburg opened a second cycling experience in mid-June 2019, called ‘Cycling through the Trees’ in Bosland at junction 272. Thanks to this new cycling trail, cyclists gradually ride up to 10 metres above ground, in a circular movement, enjoying a sensational 360-degree experience in the forest canopy. A third project – called ‘Cycling through the Heathland’ in Hoge Kempen National Park – is currently being developed and is scheduled to open in the beginning of 2021. The renewed trail between junctions 550 and 551 lets cyclists enjoy the unique heath landscape. The highlight of this cycling experience is an iconic, 300-metre long cycling bridge which connects the National Park on both sides, bringing cyclists even closer to nature and offering stunning views of the landscape.
