Cycling around Bruges

Cycling into the centre of Bruges

The Markt is 5 km from our house. In the old town nearly every street is part of a cycle zone, where cars may drive no faster than 30 km/h and may not overtake cyclists. According to Visit Bruges, its 87 km of cycle streets make it the largest cycle zone in Belgium. Cycling there is easy.

On the city centre side of the station there is a large bike park. From there you walk into town past the Minnewater. What to see in the old town is in the centre of Bruges.

Cycle network junctions around Bruges

Around Bruges and Zedelgem runs the Brugse Ommeland cycle network, more than 1,070 km of cycle paths and quiet roads with numbered junctions. You pick your own loop and follow the numbers.

The paper network map costs €10 at the reception of Zedelgem town hall or in the Westtoer webshop. Online, you can plan a route on fietsnet.be. Our favourite loops from the front door, junction numbers included, are in cycle routes around Bruges.

Cycling the Castles Route

The Castles Route (Kastelenroute) is a signposted 55.8 km loop through the Houtland, renewed in 2023. You follow hexagonal signs with the word Kastelen. For a shorter ride, take the northern loop of 26.6 km or the southern one of 40.4 km.

The route passes Loppem Castle, Beisbroek Castle and the Tillegem estate woods. Because it runs through Loppem, you join it 1.5 km from our house. The official start boards are further away, at the Tudor estate in Bruges, the Wijnendale woods in Torhout and Sint-Eligius church in Snellegem. How we link the castles together is in cycling the Castles Route.

Green Belt Bruges

The Green Belt (Groene Gordel) is a signposted 53 km cycle route in a ring around Bruges, through ancient woods, castle parks and open countryside and along the canals. It runs through the Tillegem woods and past Loppem Castle, so here too you join it close to home.

The route map costs €4, at the reception of Zedelgem town hall or from Westtoer. Along the way there are picnic spots and play areas for children.

Cycle routes of the municipality of Zedelgem

Zedelgem has its own signposted loops that pass near us:

• Zilleghem route: 49.5 km, red signs, starts at Zedelgem town hall
• Zedelgem Views route: 34 km, blue signs, start wherever you like
• Loppem Theatre cycle route: about 17 km from Sint-Martinus church in Loppem, with QR codes on wooden posts instead of signs

Because of roadworks in Ossebilkstraat, the Views route has a detour of about 1.6 km until summer 2027.

Cycling to Damme or the coast

For a longer ride, cycle into Bruges first. The free Visit Bruges Route App has the route Cycling between Bruges and Damme, through the polders past the former outer ports of Bruges.

To reach the sea, follow the signposted Beach Cycle Route (Strandfietsroute) from Bruges to the beach at Zeebrugge and back. Zeebrugge is 16 km from Bruges. Other seaside towns and the coastal tram are covered in the coast.

Bike hire in Bruges

Fietspunt Station hires out and repairs bikes, in the bike park on the city centre side of the station. It is run by Groep Intro vzw. You get there by bus from the stop 400 metres from our house.

• 1 May to 30 September: Monday to Friday 7:00 to 19:00, Saturday 9:00 to 17:00
• 1 October to 30 April: Monday to Friday 7:00 to 19:00

Fietspunt is closed on Sundays, and in winter on Saturdays too. So if you want to ride at the weekend, hire your bike on Friday.