The best city hikes and walks in Vallei Van De Zeverenbeek

Today, the Congo Market has largely disappeared due to the widening of the Schipdonk Canal. On the bank of the Schipdonk Canal, on the remains of what was – until the canal was widened – a much larger Congo Square, a monument with a bronze statue by Geo Vindevogel commemorates the horrific event that took place on May 25, 1940, when German troops managed to cross the water (the bridge had been blown up) and neutralized the Ardennes Hunters assembled there and in the market square. Source: sign on site (with more information).

Don't be mistaken: Belderbos isn't the name of a nearby forest, but rather the family name of one of the two initiators: Marc Belderbos, an architect-engineer, and Lies De Maeyer, a painting restorer. On Friday and Saturday evenings, there's often live music, especially (Latin American and African) world music. See: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576994203682&sk=photos

The unloading dock (and also the bridge) is that of the main Versele-Laga site, which primarily produces food for small and large pets. It is the second largest animal feed producer in Belgium after Arvesta. The company originated nearby: In 1932, Prudent Versele ran a garden restaurant and grocery store in Astene. He also sold compound feed for livestock and built a feed factory for compound feed production in 1937. After the Second World War, the second generation took over management of the company. The first expansion followed in 1957, and in the mid-1960s, Versele merged with a feed factory in Hasselt. In 1966, the Deinze-based company merged with the Joseph Laga-Houtekier factory, after which it became Versele-Laga. In 1981, a new pet food factory was built on the other side of the Leie River. Under the impetus of the current fourth generation, the company expanded its operations abroad. Source: Wikipedia

Under the banner "Road to LA 2028," the city of Deinze transformed the asphalt towpath on the left bank of the Leie River into a practice/competition zone for those who want to compete with friends (or, perhaps, just passing by) in a sprint event, the 400m, 800m, or 1200m, and the mile. There are marked start and finish lines in both directions, and even four numbered lanes for the sprint.

The Leie flows quietly through the centre of Deinze and forms a picturesque waterway with green banks and charming bridges. Along the river you will find cosy terraces and benches where you can enjoy the rippling water and the passing boats.

Active activity, shipping is good for the environment

It's a bit of a struggle, not much space. It is also a one-way street

The collection of the current 'Museum of Deinze and the Leie Region' consists—as intended at its founding—exclusively of works by artists who lived and/or worked in the Leie region. The Mudel comprises two sections: a visual arts collection and a folklore section, which also focuses on archaeological finds and the history of local industry. From the last quarter of the 19th century onward, the Leie region has exerted a great attraction on artists. The museum offers a chronological overview of their production, allowing you to clearly follow the evolution of these movements. The collection includes works by renowned artists such as Emile Claus, Albert Saverys, Constant Permeke, George Minne, Gustave Van De Woestijne, and Roger Raveel. In the folklore section of the museum, you can learn more about the two industries that dominated economic life in Deinze. In the late 1840s, Joseph Ricard, a businessman from Lyon, established a silk weaving mill in Deinze: the immediate launch of an industry that would bring great prosperity to the city until the rise of artificial silk in the 1920s. At the end of the 19th century, a completely new industry emerged in Deinze: the production of prams and toys. The Torck company, in particular, enjoyed considerable fame both at home and abroad for its pedal cars: child-sized replicas of car models powered by pedals. Torck built very high-quality toys using expensive materials like wood and steel. The rise of cheaper plastic proved detrimental to the company, forcing it to close in 1971.