The best road cycling routes in Zandbos

According to tradition, the sisters Harlindis and Relindis founded the Benedictine convent of Eike (or the convent of Aldeneik) around 730 on the estate of their father Adelard, near the Meuse and not far from the abbey of Susteren, founded a few years earlier. The Normans destroyed the women's convent in the 9th century. The church was rebuilt in the third quarter of the 9th century. To prevent the abbey's goods from falling into the hands of local nobles, Emperor Otto I donated the estate to the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. The Prince-Bishop founded a chapter of secular canons there around the middle of the 10th century. The Romanesque church, still partly existing today, was built in the second half of the 12th century as a chapter church. Next to it, a smaller parish church was erected, intended for the common people. The Chapter of Our Lady was moved to Maaseik at the beginning of the Eighty Years' War by order of the Prince-Bishop of Liège. In 1571, the canons moved in solemn procession, taking the relics with them, to the Sint-Catharinakerk in Maaseik, which became the new chapter church. The old chapter church of Aldeneik was reduced in size and converted into a parish church. The old parish church of Aldeneik, as well as the cloister and other chapter buildings, were demolished. The oldest, largely original part of the former chapter church is the nave from the 12th century. The polygonal Gothic choir dates from the 13th or 14th century. The side aisles were probably rebuilt around 1850 by the Maaseik architect Adolph Leemans, after they had been demolished in the course of the 16th or 17th century, probably because the church had become too large due to its change of function. The westwork and the tower were also extensively restored in the 19th century, making it almost impossible to ascertain how they looked before. In 2010, a major restoration was completed again, during which the church furniture was also renewed.

Not only this place, the whole route is beautiful, driven on August 24, 26, due to Health Hellas with a mobility scooter Very doable, a recommendation, no bad surface, many quiet streets and bike paths. Thank you for this tour.

The current Laarbrug is an iron bridge on a concrete base and was placed in September 1947. Previously, there was a high concrete bridge, built in 1932, which was blown up on May 11, 1940, when the Dutch army retreated. The Wilhelminakanaal is the first Dutch canal named after a queen and dates from the beginning of the last century. Construction began in 1910 and in 1923 the entire Wilhelminakanaal was opened for shipping.

Nice cycling through the forest on an asphalt road, without cars, wonderfully quiet

The Achelse Kluis monastery is widely known for its great beer garden with its own brewery and a great selection. At the entrance, there is also an impressive depiction of the death strip from World War I. An electric fence that stretched from Vaals to the North Sea and was put under high voltage. The German army command wanted to prevent spies, deserters, and smugglers with this.

Beautiful route and nice bike path.

The monument commemorates Lucien Vandenbroeck, a young Belgian soldier from Sint-Gillis (Brussels) who was killed on May 10, 1940, during the early days of World War II. He belonged to the First Horse Hunters Regiment and, along with other troops, was stationed in the region to support the bunker defenses along the Meuse River and slow the German advance. During an attack, he was fatally wounded by a machine-gun fire, at the age of only 20. The monument itself was erected at the request of a local family at the site of the event as a tribute to Lucien Vandenbroeck and as a lasting reminder of the struggle and sacrifices of Belgian soldiers during those first months of the war.

Beautiful trail, enjoyed every moment.