The Kempen (Campine) has one of the most extensive cycling node networks in Europe — 2175 km of flat to gently rolling cycle paths, spread across the Antwerp Kempen and Limburg Kempen. For wheelchair users, handbikers, and people who want to join a cycling family member on a tandem, this is an ideal cycling paradise: lots of paved paths, plenty of green, and little traffic.
In this guide: the main adapted cycling routes in the Kempen (Campine), rental addresses for handbikes and adapted bikes, and concrete tips per route.
The basics: the cycling node network
What it is: the Belgian cycling node network is a numbered system that is consistently signposted throughout the Kempen. You choose your own route by stringing nodes together — for example "24-31-56-90" for a 30 km loop.
Why it's ideal for wheelchair/handbike: most node paths are fully paved (asphalt or smooth semi-hardened surface), and the Kempen is physically flat — the largest elevation differences are 10-20 m over several kilometres, so no real climbs.
Maps: Toerisme Provincie Antwerpen publishes an annual cycling map that you can pick up for free at tourist welcome centres. Digitally via fietsknooppunt.be.
🚲 The iconic routes
Cycling through the Water Bokrijk
Globally famous route through the Wijers nature area in Bokrijk-Genk, where the cycle path literally runs through the water (water surface at eye level). Fully paved, a short 5 km route that is easy to ride in both directions.
Practical: accessible parking + adapted entrance at the Bokrijk gate. Combine with a Bokrijk domain day for a half-day outing.
Cycling through the Heath — Hoge Kempen National Park
Complementary iconic route — similar concept but through the heath landscapes of Hoge Kempen National Park. A viewing bridge takes you over the heath with views in every direction.
Practical: start via Kattevennen Genk or Mechelse Heide Maasmechelen. Fully paved.
🚴 Kempenroute (the Kempen Route) — one of Flanders' icon cycling routes
The Kempenroute (the Kempen Route) is a 255 km icon cycling route through the entire Antwerp Kempen, with start/finish in Turnhout or Herentals. For anyone wanting to combine a cycling weekend with thematic sights (abbeys, nature reserves, breweries), this is an excellent basis.
For wheelchair cyclists / handbikers: the whole route is paved, but 255 km in one go is achievable for few. Split it into 5 daily loops of 50 km and stay overnight in adapted holiday homes or B&Bs (see our Kempen main article).
Official info: icoonfietsroutes.be/kempenroute.
🚵 Other recommended day routes
Zilvermeer Mol loop (20 km)
Route: nodes around the Zilvermeer Provincial Domain — flat, paved, family-friendly. Ideal for a first introduction to the Antwerp Kempen.
Turnhout — De Merode loop (35 km)
Route: Turnhout centre, past the De Merode domain, back through forest areas. Fully paved, no major elevation differences.
Grote Nete valley (40 km)
Route: through the Grote Nete valley between Herentals and Balen — a water-rich landscape, poplar rows, cafés along the way. Paved, gently rolling.
Genk — National Park loop (30 km)
Route: from Genk centre along the south-eastern side of Hoge Kempen National Park. Combine with lunch at Kattevennen.
Kalmthout — Dutch border (25 km)
Route: along the Kalmthoutse Heide up to the Dutch border and back. Very flat — you pass the Dutch Dunes without any climbing.
🚴 Handbike and adapted-bike rental
For those without their own adapted bike:
Handbike rental Hoge Kempen Dilsen-Stokkem
Rental of handbikes (bikes propelled by the arms), duo bikes (two people side by side), and wheelchair bikes (a wheelchair is coupled to the bike). Reserve in advance, especially in July-August.
Practical: on the edge of Hoge Kempen National Park — start your rental and cycling trip in the same place.
Bike Republic Diest (just outside the Kempen)
Our Bike Republic partner in Diest is right by the Hageland but also covers Kempen transport via adapted delivery. See also our adapted bikes finding page.
Bike rental via Hoge Kempen National Park
Hoge Kempen National Park has partnerships with local bike rental providers — ask at the visitor centre which adapted bikes are available.
Practical tips for Kempen cycling routes
Type of bike: for most paved routes any adapted bike will do. For the longer iconic routes (Kempenroute) a handbike with gears is more pleasant than a single-speed.
Reserve rentals in advance in July-August. On sunny weekends handbikes at Dilsen-Stokkem are often fully booked.
Best season: May-June (cool, plenty of blossom) and September-October (autumn colours, fewer tourists). July-August is busy but that's when the heath carpet is purple.
Combine with public transport: NMBS (Belgian Railways) accepts adapted bikes during off-peak hours. Train to Turnhout, Mol or Genk and cycle back towards Antwerp or Leuven.
Adapted breaks along the way: cafés along the node routes are increasingly accessible. For lunch: Kempense Taverne Mol, Restaurant Erfgoed Turnhout, or our newly-tested Touro Grill Turnhout for grill portions.
For multi-day tours: stay overnight in adapted holiday homes or B&Bs — see our Kempen main article featuring the VRT-verified De Zwaluw Kasterlee.
In conclusion
The Kempen cycling routes together form one of the most accessible cycling networks in Europe — a 2175 km node network, two iconic routes (Cycling through the Water and Cycling through the Heath), and a well-developed rental offer for adapted bikes. For anyone wanting active nature tourism with a wheelchair bike, this is the top choice in Flanders.
Our recommendation: start with Cycling through the Water Bokrijk + Cycling through the Heath on the same day — together they give a good picture of why the Kempen (Campine) has earned international cycling recognition.
Have you done a Kempen cycling trip and want to share points of attention or positive surprises? Let us know — first-hand info about routes, rental providers and accessible cafés helps enormously.