The Art Cities Route, or Kunststedenroute, connects Brussels with Leuven, Mechelen, Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges and coastal Ostend. Presented by Flanders by Bike as one of the region’s iconic cycle routes, it combines city visits with greener stretches between them.
A journey between art cities
Flanders by Bike presents the route as a connection between Brussels, Leuven, Mechelen, Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges, continuing to Ostend on the coast. The attraction is the combination: riders can spend time in cities known for art and culture while also encountering nature and greenery along the way.
Visit Leuven describes a landscape of canals, rivers and former railway lines linking historic heritage. Forts and churches add to the variety of places encountered across the wider itinerary. The route passes through Beernem as well as the better-known art cities, according to the local tourism office.
Choosing a direction and a section
There is no need to treat Brussels as the only possible departure point. Flanders by Bike says riders may choose which art city to start or finish in and which direction to follow. That makes it possible to shape a trip around the cities where you most want to spend time, or to ride a section instead of the whole route.
Allow space in the itinerary for the places themselves: the route’s publisher recommends setting aside time to explore the cities and their cultural attractions. Leuven is one possible base or stop, with its own visitor office available for local information.
Signs and practical preparation
The route-specific guidance from Flanders by Bike states that the Art Cities Route is not yet signposted in the Brussels region and directs cyclists to follow EuroVelo 5 there. Elsewhere, Visit Beernem describes the iconic routes as marked in both directions with rectangular signs. Keep the Brussels exception in mind when planning navigation.
For an organised option, Flanders by Bike describes a HiFlanders cycling holiday with cycle-friendly hostels in the art cities and bike hire with panniers in Brussels or Antwerp. Grote Routepaden notes that the iconic routes were updated in 2026 following revisions to the cycle-node network, so check current route information when preparing a trip.