The Flemish Ardennes have an extensive cycling node network — but not all nodes are equally suitable for handbikes and wheelchair cyclists. The hills (Wall of Geraardsbergen, Kwaremont, Paterberg) are technically and physically too challenging. Fortunately, there are flat towpaths along the Scheldt and Dender that carry you through the region without climbing.
In this guide: 4 accessible day routes that combine the flat valley cycling paths with historic stops. Follows on from our Flemish Ardennes walking routes pillar.
The basics: cycling node network
What it is: the East Flanders cycling node network covers the entire Flemish Ardennes. Numbered nodes that you string together for your own loop.
Why valley focus for wheelchair/handbike: the valleys (Scheldt, Dender, Zwalm) are the most flat parts of the region. Outside the valleys = hills — avoid unless you have a strong handbike or e-bike.
Maps: Tourism East Flanders provides free cycling maps. Digital via fietsknooppunt.be.
4 accessible day routes
Route 1: Upper Scheldt loop Oudenaarde (30 km)
Route: Oudenaarde centre → Upper Scheldt towpath towards Kluisbergen → turning point → back via the other side of the Scheldt.
Why ideal for wheelchair/handbike: completely flat towpath, paved asphalt, car-free. Best quality route for wheelchair cyclists in the Flemish Ardennes.
Practical: start at Oudenaarde station (NMBS/SNCB adapted), break at MOU museum cafeteria or terrace on Grote Markt. Combine with a beer break at Brouwerij Liefmans or De Gans.
Route 2: Dender loop Geraardsbergen-Dendermonde (variable)
Route: along the Dender valley from Geraardsbergen towards Ninove and further to Dendermonde. Split into 10-20 km segments as desired.
Why suitable for wheelchair/handbike: towpath quality completely flat, along the river. Car-free.
Practical: Geraardsbergen station is adapted; return train from Dendermonde station back to Geraardsbergen if energy runs out. Combine with a break at Stadspark Geraardsbergen or, further on, Vleeshuis Dendermonde.
Route 3: Oudenaarde — Ronse connection (25 km)
Route: from Oudenaarde centre via lighter-hill nodes to Ronse. Not completely flat — a few light climbs — but doable with a handbike with gears.
Practical: not for manual wheelchair without assistance. Ronse station for the return trip with NMBS/SNCB. Combine with CC De Ververij and Sint-Servaaskerk Ronse.
Route 4: Ename-Oudenaarde forest loop (15 km)
Route: from Ename Abbey Church through the forest to Natuurpunt Bos 't Ename and back to Oudenaarde centre.
Why suitable for wheelchair/handbike: mixed paved/semi-paved, light undulations but no real climbs. Ideal for a short afternoon trip.
Handbike rental in the Flemish Ardennes
For those without their own adapted bike, the offering is limited in the region. Alternatives:
- Bike Republic Diest — 1.5 hours' drive from Oudenaarde, but the most complete adapted sales and rental address in Flanders. They offer guided delivery for multi-day hire.
- Handbike rental Hoge Kempen Dilsen-Stokkem — if you're doing a Campine-Flemish-Ardennes combo anyway.
- Local: check with Oudenaarde tourism for local rental addresses — the offering changes by season.
See also our finding-adapted-bikes page for the broader sales points overview.
What not to do — warnings
Tour-of-Flanders hills: Wall of Geraardsbergen (20% cobblestones), Paterberg, Kwaremont, Oude Kwaremont — not accessible. Even with the strongest electric handbike, these are unachievable climbs for untrained users.
Cycling nodes across hills: many Flemish Ardennes nodes run over local hills. Check the elevation profile before departure — use komoot or the Fietsknooppunten app that shows elevation differences.
Cycling tourism crowds in April: the Tour of Flanders (first Sunday of April) draws thousands of cyclists to the region. Avoid the weekend and the days before for quiet cycling.
Practical tips for Flemish Ardennes cycling routes
Best season: September-October (autumn colours + calm). May-June also pleasant but busier.
Wheelchair type: handbike with gears is clearly the best choice for the hill-lighter routes. For pure flat towpaths, any adapted bike works.
Combine with NMBS/SNCB: adapted stations in Oudenaarde, Ronse, Geraardsbergen. See our NMBS/SNCB assistance guide. Train-bike-train formula works well in this region.
Rest stops en route: Brouwerij Liefmans for beer context, Stadspark Liedts Oudenaarde for quiet, MOU Museum for a cultural stop.
For multi-day stays: Oudenaarde is the strongest base (batch 4 follows).
Combine with other pillars
- Flemish Ardennes main pillar
- Flemish Ardennes walking routes — for those who only walk
- Campine cycling routes — flatter and more rental options
- finding-adapted-bikes — landing page for sales/rental
Finally
Cycling in the Flemish Ardennes with a wheelchair or handbike is doable provided you stay on the valleys. The Upper Scheldt towpath in Oudenaarde and the Dender towpath in Geraardsbergen are two of the strongest flat cycling trips in Flanders — flat, paved, car-free, and culturally framed.
Our recommendation: start with the Upper Scheldt loop Oudenaarde (30 km) — the finest quality route for wheelchair cyclists in the region.
Have you done an accessible cycling trip in the Flemish Ardennes? Let us know — first-hand info about paths, elevations and accessible rest breaks helps enormously.