The best traffic-free bike rides around Sint-Gillis-Waas

The Roomanmolen is a stone tower mill on the corner of Pastorijwegel and Beekstraat. This mill was built in 1847 with bricks fired on site. It is the tallest stone windmill in Flanders and the only remaining one of the five windmills that Sint-Pauwels used to have. The mill is named after the miller family who became the owner of this mill in 1895. The former name Gelaagmolen has fallen into disuse. The Roomanmolen was initially an oil and grain windmill. This explains the high ceiling on the ground floor. A steam engine was used, but now only the building and the chimney remain. In 1963, a restoration took place based on a design by architect Fernand Weyers from Sint-Niklaas, but this was not with the intention of grinding again. In 1997, the mill was restored to working order by mill maker Roland Wieme from Deinze. The outbuilding and the chimney of the former steam engine were also restored. The Van Dorpe family sold the working mill in 2003 to the provincial government of East Flanders. It is managed by the Mola mill center, among other mills. The Roomanmolen is freely accessible. In addition to guided tours, grinding demonstrations are also given if possible. The official opening hours are: From April to October, every first and last Sunday of the month from 1 PM to 5 PM. Special days including Open Monumentendag and Oost-Vlaamse Molendag from 10 AM to 5 PM. In the winter period (November-March), the mill is occasionally open. Apparently, the mill is also sometimes used as a party venue. For example, there was a wedding reception going on during my visit. sources: molenechos.org & roomanmolen.be

The creek area of Saleghem is more than the sum of its parts. The nature reserve consists of the Grote Saleghemgeul on one side, and the Sint-Jakobsgat and the Kieldrechtse Watergang on the other. This triumvirate of water creeks then flows into the Grote Geule in Kieldrecht. Each separately is beautiful, yes. But together they are magical. The succession of gently sloping banks, grassland and hay, rare birds and colourful flowers, rustling reeds and melancholic willows: it silences a person. It inspires awe for the magic of nature. And everyone can enjoy it – even wheelchair users, because there is a special wheelchair walk around the creek lakes. This is what waasland.be writes... and there is nothing to contradict it.

The Wullebos is located on a former sand drift ridge and is 69 hectares in size. The name comes from "wulle", meaning "long-eared owl". The Abelebeek and Wullebosbeek streams run through the forest, both in a northerly direction. The Papdijk, built in 1691, also runs through the area. A checkerboard pattern of avenues is present both in the forest and in the agricultural area to its south. It indicates reclamation in the second half of the 18th century. The agricultural area was deforested in the course of the 19th century, preserving the checkerboard structure. The Baggaarthof is located in the area, around which numerous ghost stories circulate. source: Wikipedia

The wooden arch bridge over the Stekense Vaart, named after Frans Coppens, was receiver-clerk in the municipality of Sinaai for almost a quarter of a century. He played an important role in "de Groote Watering van Sinay", the name given to the project launched by the Boerenbond in 1926. This project was initiated after repeated floods and aimed to make the polders 'dry'. The construction of the pumping station near Hondsnest was one of the first achievements within this project. During the Second World War, the unemployed were employed to clean or widen ditches. Under the impetus of dike reeve Jozef "meester" Maes and... receiver-clerk Frans Coppens (!), major reclamation works were carried out in the 60s, continuing into the following decades. Thus, Hondsnest got a new pumping station in 1975. In the meantime, the watering area had been converted into a polder, pursuant to the polder law of June 3, 1957. source: info file "Polder Daknam-Sinaai"

On this segment, you will get to know the Stropersbos. A bench awaits you at the heathland restoration area. About the Stropersbos: the Stropersbos is a must-see natural gem with its stately avenues, valuable alder swamp forests, open spaces with heathland, and its large grazers! Together with the adjacent green areas, the Stropersbos forms one of the largest forest and nature complexes in East Flanders. Numerous walking and cycling opportunities allow visitors to discover the Stropersbos.

single track that requires concentration

Very well-developed cycle path

rust!