Pedal Festival is het eerste Belgische festival rond bikepacking en fietsavontuur. Omdat fietsen verbindt en solidariteit geen grenzen kent, vragen we bezoekers om via de donatieknop bij te dragen aan dit waardevolle project.
€140 raised
Gathering is at 9:15, the ride starts at 10:00, so you have plenty of time to enjoy a nice breakfast at the Pedalfestival.
Starting in the park Rivierenhof - Groot Schijn the heart leads you to some fun spots in the Antwerp Suburbs as well as the green peripheria of Antwerp (Schoten - 's Gravenwezel - Schilde - Wijnegem). We tried to find a good balance between the shape, but still enjoying a lot of nature and quite roads and some interesting hidden landmarks.
After the ride you can enjoy workshops, inspiring lectures, bikepacking speed dates, and pleasant encounters at Bar Pedal.
The gpx of the route (downloadable from this site).
As this is part of the festival, you are invited to all the events that are hosted by the festival.
No supplies along the way. The festival will offer you the possibiltiy to have a breakfast that gives enought energy to complete the 30 km ;-)
No technical support.
This short gravel adventure blends suburban charm with lush green escapes, weaving through parks, forts, and lesser-known castles in the North-East periphery of Antwerp. We balanced nature and heritage to maintain a smooth ride—no hike-a-bike moments, ensuring a nice flow.
We kick off in Rivierenhof, Antwerp’s largest park, and head north through the suburbs of Deurne and Merksem, where two hidden castles—Bisschoppenhof and Boekenborg—await discovery. Even lifelong Antwerp residents might be surprised by these tucked-away green zones.
From Fort Merksem, we roll into Peerdsbos, a forest known for its long, straight avenues flanked by majestic beeches and oaks—perfect for a meditative stretch of gravel.
Next, we trace the off-road side of the Kempen Canal, gliding through the green residential areas of Schoten and 's Gravenwezel, until we reach the elegant Hof Ter Linden castle.
The final leg takes us through Wijnegem, where you’ll pass Europe’s largest inland shipping lock and wrap up the ride with a visit to the fourth castle on the route: Wijnegemhof.
Pedal Festival brengt een gevarieerd programma van routes, kamperen, lezingen, workshops, kortfilms, social rides, een fietsreismarkt en een warme festivalvibe. Pedal festival verbindt en inspireert zowel nieuwsgierige beginners als ervaren wereldfietsers.
