Vlaams-Brabant

Welcome to Flemish Brabant

And welcome to the hotbed of cycling! Champions such as Eddy Merckx, Roland Liboton and Sven Nys were raised and became famous here. In this region, people eat, sleep and breathe cycling. But we believe that the future of cycling is also ours. Young talented cyclists such as Thibau Nys, Jasper Stuyven, Victor Campenaerts and Remco Evenepoel are just as eager to score heroic victories, just like their cycling heroes before them.

Cycling heroes and talented young cyclists

Sven Nys Cycling Center

Flemish Brabant is the premier cycling destination to enjoy a wide variety of cycling disciplines. Balenberg, for example, is a legendary place. This is where they hold the Grote Prijs Sven Nijs race every year, but the hill actually owes its legendary status to the fact that the master himself used to race up and down its slopes as a child. You may even be lucky and run into Sven and Thibau here while they train. It’s easy to see why Sven chose to build his Cycling Center on the summit of this hill. And what an adventure awaits you! The Sven Nys Cycling Center is the place to go for and to learn all about off-road cycling. Here you can check out different off-road cycling disciplines such as cyclo-cross, MTB, rock garden, pump track and trial and try them all for free. The experience centre is a great place to find out everything you always wanted to know about this unique sport. End your day with a pint on the stunning terrace of the Velo café. A must for all cycling fans!

More information on the Sven Nys Cycling Center

Ride your own cycling classic and tame the hills of the cycling world championships final

Explore Sven Nys’s favourite training grounds, the hills where Eddy Merckx rode to international fame, or ride your own spring classic on the course of De Brabantse Pijl, where you can tame the memorable hills of the cycling world championships final. Why not make it a multi-day tour even so you can feel like a real Flandrien!

Sven Nys Cycling Route: 93 km, altimeter 900
Eddy Merckx Cycling Route: 70 km, altimeter 500
De Brabantse Pijl Cycling Route: 98 km, altimeter 1000

For beer lovers

Flemish Brabant is also very popular with beer lovers. Where else will you find such a diverse range of regional beers, breweries and pubs? The province is home to no fewer than 30 breweries, which brew 250 regional beers. It all ranges from the world’s largest beer company to small, craft brewers. Here brewing traditions are cherished and handed down from generation to generation, with something to suit everyone’s taste and style: pilsner, amber, gueuze or cherry beers. Remember, however, that the beers of Flemish Brabant should always be sampled in moderation.

More information on our beer tradition

Follow in the footsteps of kings, knights and marquises

If you love to explore stunning castles and landscaped gardens following in the footsteps of the kings and noblemen of yore, then Flemish Brabant is the place to go. Stroll in style through Gaasbeek Park, and take the time to discover the lovely museum garden and its view of impressive Gaasbeek Castle. Visit Horst Castle, which provided the inspiration for the backdrops of ‘De Rode Ridder’ comics. Beersel Castle, a unique moated castle that is just a stone’s throw from Brussels, is also well worth a visit. Or be blown away by the grandeur of the Africa Museum, which is surrounded by a magnificent park that is simply breathtaking in any season.

Discover our castles

Putting a little spring in your step

This green region around Brussels will definitely put a little spring in your step! Flemish Brabant has a dazzling array of hiking trails for keen walkers, with over 3,200 km signposted walks. You can find a selection of these walks in our #dewandelprovincie brochure. Any walk through Flemish Brabant is always surprising, offering plenty of variation and a great experience in the most beautiful landscapes of the Green Belt and the Hageland region.

More information on hiking in Flemish Brabant