This 4-day beer and bike tour is the sequel to our brewery route in the Belgian Ardennes. We mapped out this cycling route for beer lovers through Flanders and the southern Netherlands, connecting 8 breweries and Trappist abbeys along scenic countryside roads.

Getting There

Flanders – Belgian’s northern half – and the Netherlands have an extensive cycling network made up by nodes. You can map out any cycling route by connecting start and endpoint through biking nodes on the website Fietsnet. The numbered nodes are displayed on signs at the crossroads of any two cycling paths. This great system ensures a carefree cycling tour along safe and scenic bike paths. Add to that flat terrain, and the combination of cycling and beers is a walk in the park – especially compared to our Belgian Ardennes beer and bike adventure.

Stay

We carried our camping gear in bicycle bags. Campgrounds can be found along the route and don’t require reservations. Cities like Antwerp, Breda and Tilburg house all types of accommodations, while plenty of B&Bs can be found in the countryside.

Day 1: Antwerp » Zundert

Starting Point

We started this beer and bike tour from het Eilandje in the north of Antwerp. This neighborhood is home to the striking MAS Museum, which focusses on the history and global connection of the city on the river. The rooftop terrace offers 360-degree views of Antwerp, the river and the port.

Part 1: Antwerp to Westmalle

• Distance: 28 kilometers
• Route: Nodes 56-26-79-31-30-16-20-41-40-44-01-47-12-62
• Brewery visit #1: Trappist Abbey of Westmalle

After two hours of biking through the province of Antwerp’s upscale neighborhoods, we reached the Trappist Abbey of Westmalle. The abbey is scenically located, but not open to the public. Café Trappisten across the street serves a menu of dishes prepared with Trappist, draft Westmalle beers and degustation platters.

Part 2: Westmalle to Zundert

• Distance: 21 kilometers
• Route: Nodes 62-12-47-48-99-98-81-80-78-91-92-93-63-90-56-47-65-64
• Brewery visit #2: Abbey Maria Toevlucht (Zundert Trappist)

Zundert is a modern Trappist, as Abbey Maria Toevlucht only started brewing in 2011. It was one of two Trappists brewed in the Netherlands, until the last monks filed a petition to close the entire Abbey in 2025. You can still find the three Zundert Trappist varieties in cafés surrounding the Abbey, to be enjoyed with views of the Dutch countryside.

Day 2: Zundert » Poppel

Part 1: Zundert to Chaam

• Distance: 22 kilometers
• Route: Nodes 64-14-12-4-70-43-91-92-93-47-75
• Level: Easy

The first part of today’s route crosses the Dutch countryside, passing through small villages on the way. Looking for breakfast, we spotted Boerderijterras bij Toontje Schoen. This turned out to be a lovely terrace on a farm, with an extensive regional beer menu. It was too early for beer, but Toontjes koek with coffee was just the breakfast we needed.

Part 2: Chaam to Poppel

• Distance: 18 kilometers
• Route: Nodes 75-48-62-30-61-95-65-66-11-12-76-78-85-51-40
• Brewery visit #3: De Biertuin

Crossing the Belgian border again, we arrived in Poppel. A small town with little going on, except for the simple but amazing concept De Biertuin. In a large garden with picnic benches, you can try a wide variety of regional beers and listen to local bands. Instead of continuing for 20 kilometers as planned, we ended up trying about 20 different beers. In return for our dedication to the beer menu, the owners let us be the first to set up camp in De Biertuin.

Day 3: Poppel » Riethoven

Part 1: Poppel to Koningshoeven

• Distance: 18 kilometers
• Route: Nodes 40-8-51-42-5-6-82
• Brewery visit #4: Koningshoeven Abbey (La Trappe Trappist)

From Poppel, a peaceful path through the forest leads to the third Trappist brewery on this tour. La Trappe is brewed at the Koningshoeven Abbey in Berkel-Enschot, just across the Belgian border. You can try different La Trappe varieties in 12,5 cl glasses on a beautiful terrace in the abbey’s gardens. The La Trappe Quadrupel Oak Aged came out as our favorite.

Part 2: Koningshoeven to Hilvarenbeek

• Distance: 9 kilometers
• Route: Nodes 82-6-5-42-1-48-49-68-26-27-31-32-51-52
• Brewery visit #5: Museumbrouwerij De Roos

The next brewery in Hilvarenbeek only requires a short bike ride, and is worth a stop. Museum-Brewery De Roos is an authentic Dutch brewery from the 19th century. The small museum shows the brewing process from over a 100 years ago. Entering the cosy tasting room feels like stepping into the past. The microbrewery has four beers on draft, in addition to limited edition brews.

Part 3: Hilvarenbeek to Riethoven

• Distance: 32 kilometers
• Route: Nodes 42-1-48-49-68-26-27-31-32-51-52-53-35-38-62-88-86-60-61-7-69
• Brewery visit #6: Beerze Brewery

We made one more stop on the way to our stay for the night. Beerze Brewery Hotel is located at the town square of Vessem. The brewery brews three artisanal beers with the slogan Bold.Brave.Beerze. After sharing a bottle, it would have been heaven to roll in a bed of the adjacent hotel. But we were brave and continued to Mini Camping Heierhof, an alpaca farm and campground in Riethoven.

Day 4: Riethoven » Mol

Part 1: Riethoven to Hamont-Achel

• Distance: 15 kilometers
• Route: Nodes 69-3-1-93-98-2-32-33-217
• Brewery visit #7: Achelse Kluis

Just like our first beer and bike edition in the Belgian Ardennes, we started the final day in the pouring rain. We biked to the Achelse Kluis, at the time still a Trappist brewery but not anymore. After its last two monks left for Westmalle abbey, Achel beers lost their Authentic Trappist label. The brewery continues to produce Achel beers and even added several varieties. It is still housed in the former monastery and includes a café-restaurant with views of the brewery.

Part 2: Hamont-Achel to Mol

• Distance: 29 kilometers
• Route: Nodes 217-218-564-220-221-228-227-230-231-232-76-77-31
• Brewery visit #8: Postel Abbey

The rain was followed by heavy winds on the final leg of our trip. Although it felt like we were going backwards, we eventually made it to Postel Abbey in Mol. Postel beers are produced by the commercial Affligem Brewery outside of the abbey. The three Postel beer varieties are served in Gasthof de Beiaard, a cosy café with terrace adjacent to the abbey. The end of this 4-day cycling route past 8 breweries coincided with our beer saturation point.

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