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Belgium

Also known as Les Pays Bas or The Low Countries – we are pleased to offer cycling trips in both countries of Holland and Belgium!

For the very latest in Belgium travel news, please see http://www.visitbelgium.com/

Chocolate & Beer | WWI Site Menin Gate Memorial | Ghent & Oudenaarde Sites |  Bizarre Festivals of Belgium |

Belgium – The Kingdom of Belgium is bordered by the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and France and is one of the founding and core members of the European Union. Belgium has a population of over ten million people, in an area of around 30,000 square kilometres (11,700 square miles).

Flanders – the area of Belgium where we concentrate most of this cycling tour has a long and important history. See Wikipedia at this link for more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flanders

Geography
Belgium, with an area of 30 528 square kilometres (11,787 sq. mi), has three main geographical regions: the coastal plain in the north-west, the central plateau, and the Ardennes uplands in the south-east. The coastal plain consists mainly of sand dunes and polders.

Polders are areas of land, close to or below sea level that have been reclaimed from the sea, from which they are protected by dikes or, further inland, by fields that have been drained with canals.

The second geographical region, the central plateau, lies further inland. This is a smooth, slowly rising area that has many fertile valleys and is irrigated by many waterways. Here one can also find rougher land, including caves and small gorges.

The third geographical region, called the Ardennes, is more rugged than the first two. It is a thickly forested plateau, very rocky and not very good for farming, which extends into northern France.

Weather and Climate
Lots of tourists visit Belgium in summer. There is no denying that this is the best time of the year to sit by the canals or take a bike trip through the country. Spring is a good time to visit too, as the bulb flowers are in full bloom in this season. April is the best month for daffodils, May for tulips. Rain is spread pretty evenly over the year, so there is not much point in trying to avoid the drizzle. Winter can be quite cold, but you will find that the museums are not very busy, which is not a bad thing.

The climate is maritime temperate, with significant precipitation in all seasons; the average temperature is 3 C (37F) in January, and 18 C (64 F) in July; the average precipitation is 65 millimetres (2.6 in) in January, and 78 millimetres (3.1 in) in July).

Money
Currency in Belgium is the euro (EUR).
Changing money is easy. Any post office will change cash or travelers’ cheques, and change bureaus are commonly found. Banks generally offer the best exchange rates. Cash-dispensing ATMs are all over the place: Cirrus access is common and MasterCard is the most widely accepted credit card. Tipping is not compulsory, but rounding up the bill is always appreciated in taxis, restaurants and pubs with table or pavement service.

Special Routes for Cyclists
These routes are well marked and often exclude any kind of motorized vehicles. In many parts, you will find superbly indicated special routes for cyclists. Many businesses along these routes specialize in the rent and repair of bicycles. Special events for cyclists are regularly organized, and Belgians are active cyclists. Belgium is a ‘cyclist-friendly’ country with a climate characterized by mild winters and comfortable summers.

Customer Comments
“I had an excellent time. I loved the cycling and found the tour a great way of meeting like minded people to get out on the road with. Would highly recommend it. ”
– Jim P.