The canal meanders through the Belgian countryside and offers beautiful views of the surrounding polders and fields. The cycle path along the canal is well maintained and often far removed from busy roads, making it perfect for a relaxing cycle ride.

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🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

May 28, 2025

Cycling

The canal with many names: officially it is called the ‘Afleidingskanaal van de Leie’, it is often called the ‘Schipdonkkanaal’ or ‘Kanaal van Schipdonk’ and in common parlance people sometimes dare to speak of the ‘Stinker’. The latter name refers to the heavily polluted water in the canal as a result of flax retting in the Leie.

It was precisely because of that polluted water that a siphon was built to prevent dirty water from flowing into the Ghent-Bruges canal. The ‘Goed van Schipdonck’ near this intersection is said to have given the canal its name.
Source: lievegem.be/lievelingsplekjes/schipdonkkanaal

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Best routes near Schipdonk Canal Cycle Path

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1. Cycle Path Along the Lieve – Towpath Along the Lieve loop from Gent-Dampoort

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4.0

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2. Ghent–Bruges Canal Cycle Path – Schipdonk Canal Car-Free Path loop from Gent-Sint-Pieters

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4.6

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3. Schipdonk Canal Car-Free Path – Ghent–Bruges Canal loop from Brugge-Sint-Pieters

81.3km

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Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Details

Informations

Distance 2.43 km

Uphill 10 m

Downhill 0 m

Weather

Monday 23 March

15°C

6°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 22.0 km/h

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Take Me There

Location: Zomergem, Gent, East Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

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Schipdonk Canal

Gent to Bruges Cycling Route

Schipdonk Canal Cycle Path

1. Cycle Path Along the Lieve – Towpath Along the Lieve loop from Gent-Dampoort

2. Ghent–Bruges Canal Cycle Path – Schipdonk Canal Car-Free Path loop from Gent-Sint-Pieters

3. Schipdonk Canal Car-Free Path – Ghent–Bruges Canal loop from Brugge-Sint-Pieters

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