Cycling Through Water at the Bokrijk Open Air museum, Belgium. It feels strange to be cycling along a sunken path, my head at the same level as the ducks and swans swimming on the still waters of the pond beyond the walls. But Cycling Through Water , part of a biking trail in the Bokrijk forest, is another surprise on a trip to Belgium’s Limburg province. 30km20miBrusselsGenkHasseltHelshovenBELGIUMNETHERLANDSNETHERLANDSNETHERLANDSZonhoven Close to the border with the Netherlands, this unspoilt area is less than two hours’ drive from Brussels. Soon after picking up a car at Brussels Midi, I’m driving through luxuriant countryside passing dense woodland, cornfields and shaded lakes. With about 1,250 miles (2,000km) of paved, mostly car-free trails, Limburg is a paradise for bike enthusiasts – and easily navigable thanks to a clearly numbered junction system on its innovative cycle network. Difficult even for amateurs like me to get lost. Peaceful countryside on the way to Limburg. Photograph: Ralf Liebhold/Alamy I check into Park Molenheide , a campsite with a small area for tents, caravans or campers and a wide selection of comfortable self-catering chalets, well spaced out under pine trees. The clientele is mainly cyclists and families (it’s particularly popular with the Dutch). There’s lots for children: giant indoor swimming pools, a fantasy adventure park, mini golf and fishing. For cyclists, Molenheide is a great base, with bike hire onsite.
The next day I start by hitting the path through De Wijers , a sprawling wetlands nature reserve with more than […]
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