The best traffic-free bike rides in Houthulstbos

From Belgian WWI rest zone to Trappist pickup point Today, cyclists and beer lovers come here to pick up their reserved crate of Westvleteren. More than a hundred years ago, this was a very different place. At the end of 1917, the area around St. Sixtus Abbey was set up as a Belgian rest zone. Soldiers could catch their breath here after their deployment at the front. Initially, the monks feared that the Belgian troops would cause nuisance, but that concern proved unfounded. The soldiers behaved exemplarily and helped the abbey where needed. A British officer described the place as an “oasis of rest and peace in the middle of the war desert.” Today, that peace still reigns here, only with a very different mission: no soldiers resting, but cyclists picking up their crate of Blond, 8 or 12. 🍺 Tip: picking up your Westvleteren here? Then take a look at the information board. You are standing in a place where war history and Trappist beer come together beautifully today.

St. Sixtus Abbey & In de Vrede: Trappist beer with a touch of mystery 🍻 A bike tour through the Westhoek is not complete without a stop at the St. Sixtus Abbey of Westvleteren. The brewery itself remains closed to visitors, but the abbey walls and the information center Het Claustrum offer a beautiful glimpse into the lives of the monks and the rich history of this special place. Right next to the abbey, you'll find In de Vrede, the meeting center where you can enjoy a Westvleteren Blond, 8, or 12, accompanied by a snack on the terrace. In the abbey shop, depending on availability, you can also purchase Trappist beer and official glasses. A delightful stop where tranquility, history, and an authentic West Flemish beer moment come together!

« The Hauntings » is a 6.5 m high work, made from recycled metal from car parts and old machinery: Martin Galsavy, the blacksmith who made it at the request of British artist Jo Oliver, worked on it for 1 year, explaining how art and craftsmanship can mutually reinforce each other. The Hautings was born from Jo Oliver's desire to bring to life a character from a story she heard as a teenager, that of a young wandering soldier, searching for his home, whose ghost she had seen in the hills of Somerset. The soldier of the 14-18 war is represented not as a hero but as an ordinary man, without distinction of race, nationality or political opinion. According to her husband, Paul Richards, it also symbolizes all that is good in people facing war or adversity. The work aims not only to commemorate but also to provoke reflection. Looking towards the Menin Gate where the names of thousands of missing from the First World War are engraved, he seemed to silently watch over his fallen comrades. At his feet, metal flower wreaths forged by children in 2016 during the blacksmiths' event in Ypres. Before arriving in Ypres, « The Hauntings » was exhibited in Dublin, Scotland, and Amesbury (in tribute to Lieutenant Edmund Antrobus who fell in combat during the 1st Battle of Ypres and whose name also appears on the Menin Gate). Its owners wished for the work to be installed in Ypres for November 11: arriving in several parts, it was reassembled on site to be visible to the public for 2 months. Following numerous positive reactions from the population, its presence was extended. In April 2026, it departed for its final location, the garden of its owners in Somerset, amidst a dozen other works, each telling its own story.

The castle and its surroundings are currently being restored. It already looks great, and in the future it will be fabulous. There is also a very nice little restaurant and a free toilet there.

cassel

Unfortunately the soldier has run off. Today he was no longer here, a pity. We are going to look for him.

From here, there is also a beautiful view of the Menin Gate.

So that every visitor becomes aware of the horror and hell of war in the past. That humanity learns nothing by slaughtering each other for nothing. But we are led by idiots and power-hungry people!!