Begin on the Grote Markt in Aalst below the town hall. Construction on the building began in the 12th century, making it the oldest town hall in Belgium.

Leave the square along Kattestraat. After passing the Sint-Jozef Church, the road becomes Dendermondesteenweg. Turn right at the five-way intersection onto Denderstraat, passing under the railway bridge that crosses the Dender River. Turn left, following signs for intersection 28. Ride along the river beside barges working their way downstream and house-boats moored along the bank.

Bike path 28 becomes 29. When the road comes out on the main road, turn right and then left, away from the commercial area and out into the countryside. Geese and goslings, ducks and ducklings - at this time of year this section of the Dender is a veritable family portrait of the bird world, and there is little noise beyond the calls of the mothers corralling their children, the fishermen chatting amongst themselves and the whir of the occasional fellow cyclist.

Continue along the canal to path 27, then 81. The church steeple of Oudegem rises to the left. Bursts of flowers in the fields call out to stop for a picnic or just to soak up the sun, while the Dender continues to meander along to the right.

Pass the sluice to bike path 85, curving now to follow the railway line over the river into the outskirts of Dendermonde.

Bear left, heading out into the fields, and then left again until returning to the Dender river, bearing right now and following signs for path 84 and then 89. Right again onto the Sint-Jorisgildedijk, follow the path into town. Willows weep low on the water's edge as if admiring themselves in a mirror.

Following signs for bike path 89, weave through town to the Grote Markt of Dendermonde. The beautiful square below the 14th-century belfry (a Unesco World Heritage Site that miraculously survived two World Wars that left the rest of the city in rubble) is the end of the ride. Choose a café and feed your strength: the way back to Aalst awaits.

Distance: 16 kilometres one way
Difficulty: Easy. Peaceful, family-friendly ride along a river and canal between two beautiful Flemish towns
Time: An hour each way