Belgian canals — the perfectly flat waterways running throughout the country — together form hundreds of kilometres of paved towpath, ideal for wheelchair users and handbikers. Flat, no traffic, nature moments, and adapted facilities at strategic points. For wheelchair users this is best-in-class handbike terrain — often better than official cycling routes across the hills.
This deepdive documents the most popular Belgian canal towpaths for wheelchair users and handbikers, with special attention for the Kempen canals (popularity peak in our visitor database).
🚴 Why canal towpaths are ideal for wheelchair/handbike
Structural advantages:
- Flat terrain — canals follow contour lines; gradients are minimal
- Paved surface — mostly asphalt or stabilised gravel
- No motorised traffic — towpaths are walk-and-cycle only
- Quiet character — nature and water, less crowd pressure
- Predictable route — no surprises, no "cobblestone sectors"
- Connection to cities and towns — natural connection points for rest or extending
- Adapted toilets at strategic canal locations (locks, marinas, meeting points)
For wheelchair users: canals are the most predictable adapted outdoor option that Belgium offers.
🌿 Kempen — popularity peak
The Kempen has a dense network of historic canals — built for industrial shipping in the 19th-20th centuries, now largely repurposed for recreation. Our most-visited cycling info page is the Kempen cycling routes pillar.
Bocholt-Herentals Canal
Historic industrial canal connecting eastern Kempen (Bocholt) with central Kempen (Herentals). 50+ km of paved towpath, largely traffic-free. Ideal for long handbike rides.
Lock points along the way: Balen, Mol, Geel, Herentals — all with adapted hospitality options and usually an adapted toilet.
Dessel-Kwaadmechelen Canal (and extension to Bocholt)
Connection between the Kempen Canal system. 20-30 km of paved towpath. Quieter character than Bocholt-Herentals.
Beverlo Canal (Kempen Canal)
From Genk towards Zolder. Popular with Limburg handbikers.
Combine with
- Kempen cycling routes handbike — most concrete route details
- Kempen main pillar — broader regional context
- Handbike rental Hoge Kempen Dilsen-Stokkem — rental for a first introduction
- Bike Republic Diest — for purchase with VAPH guidance
🌊 Yser towpath (Westhoek)
The Yser is the river running straight through the Westhoek — from the French border to Nieuwpoort where it enters the sea. The towpath along the Yser is flat, paved, and connects WWI heritage locations with the modern coast.
Route: Diksmuide to Nieuwpoort
~35 km of paved towpath. Accessible via NMBS station Diksmuide and Nieuwpoort. Along the way:
- Yser Tower Diksmuide — WWI heritage
- Pervijze and Kaaskerke — WWI front line locations
- Yser Estuary nature reserve on the Nieuwpoort side
Ideal for: handbikers wanting to combine culture + nature. The WWI front line ran here — the towpath literally follows the line where Belgian and German troops fought each other.
Combine with
- Westhoek WWI heritage pillar
- Belgian coast main pillar — Nieuwpoort endpoint
🚂 Willebroek Canal (Antwerp-Brussels)
Historic sea-shipping connection between Antwerp and Brussels via the Rupel. Fully adapted towpath along both banks.
Route: Willebroek to Antwerp-South
~40 km of paved towpath. At Willebroek: adapted facilities (rowing course context). Antwerp side: connection to urban cycling network.
Ideal for: urban-industrial character handbike ride. You see active industrial shipping in operation.
Combine with
⚓ Ghent-Terneuzen Canal (cross-border NL/BE)
Cross-border canal between Ghent (East Flanders) and Terneuzen (Zeeland-Netherlands). 80+ km of paved towpath on the Belgian side.
Character
Industrial-port landscape — large ships, containers, industrial footprint. For wheelchair users not summer-nature-beautiful but fascinating for industry enthusiasts.
Route options
- Ghent-Zelzate: 20 km, adapted, urban-industrial start
- Zelzate-Terneuzen: 40 km, cross-border with Zeeland
Combine with
- Ghent citytrip
- Meetjesland regional pillar — Meetjesland lies along this canal
- Belgian coast from NL/DE — for Zeeland cross-border
🌊 Brussels-Charleroi Canal (Walloon-Flemish)
Historic industrial canal between Brussels and Charleroi. Part is adapted, part is not — check specifically per section.
Ronquières inclined lift — impressive technical installation, accessibly visitable.
🏔️ Southern Wallonia - Ourthe, Semois, Meuse towpaths
RAVeL network in Wallonia combines old railway lines with canal towpaths. For extended handbike routes:
- Walloon Ardennes RAVeL cycling routes — the complete Walloon RAVeL context
📋 Practical — choosing a canal towpath
For a first introduction (5-10 km)
- Willebroek Canal (Willebroek-Antwerp) — easy start, low traffic
- Bocholt-Herentals Canal (Herentals-Geel) — most used by beginners
For a full-day ride (20-30 km)
- Yser towpath Diksmuide-Nieuwpoort — culture+nature combo
- Kempen canals (Bocholt-Balen-Mol) — nature-focused ride
For a challenge (40+ km)
- Ghent-Terneuzen Canal — industry + cross-border
- Brussels-Charleroi Canal — hill context with inclined lift
For handbike rental
- Handbike rental Hoge Kempen Dilsen-Stokkem — for first Kempen introduction
- Bike Republic Diest — for purchase after first experience
🎯 Our top recommendations
For first-time canal handbike: Bocholt-Herentals Canal — Herentals-Geel section on a weekday summer morning. Flat, paved, quiet, adapted terraces along the way.
For culture enthusiasts: Yser towpath Diksmuide-Nieuwpoort — WWI heritage and coastal endpoint in one handbike day.
For long-distance handbikers: Ghent-Terneuzen Canal — 80 km cross-border option, industrial fascination.
For quiet nature moments: Dessel-Kwaadmechelen Canal in the quiet Kempen.
Combine with other pillars
- Cycling routes handbike Belgium — general overview
- Kempen cycling routes handbike
- Flemish Ardennes cycling routes handbike
- Walloon Ardennes RAVeL
- Adaptive sport and recreation — handbike as sport
- Choosing your first handbike — purchase advice
Finally
Belgian canals together form hundreds of kilometres of paved towpath — for wheelchair users and handbikers best-in-class adapted terrain. The Kempen is the reference region for wheelchair-handbike enthusiasts, with widely popular canal towpaths reflecting decades of use.
Our recommendation: start with a 5-10 km handbike ride on a Kempen canal — rental at Handbike rental Hoge Kempen, weekday morning, ideal introduction to what the Belgian canal network offers.
Do you have a canal towpath experience we should include here? Let us know — first-hand info about lock points, adapted hospitality along canals, and handbike group outing organisation helps us gradually expand this pillar.