Flemish (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A new cycling path within the Flemish perimeter around Brussels just opened, and plans to draw visitors toward the Green Belt. The route leads to Gaasbeek Castle, multiple historic properties, and their surrounding gardens.
A new cycling route within the Flemish perimeter outside Brussels became operational to draw tourists toward the Green Belt area. The path moves through multiple historic sites, beginning with Gaasbeek Castle, until it reaches other important estates and gardens. A new cycle route functions as part of an extended regional marketing effort to position the area as both a cultural and natural tourism destination.
The cycle route is linked to a campaign that promotes the Flemish periphery.
“Many tourists who visit Brussels have no idea of the green oasis that is located right next to the capital,”
says Ben Weyts (N-VA), Minister of the Flemish periphery.
“We are changing that with this campaign.”
“After all, everything comes together in the Flemish periphery: you are in the countryside, but there is also a lot of fascinating cultural history,”
says Weyts.
“The many castles, for example, are really worth it.”
Gaasbeek Castle is the most famous in the region.
“We have invested more than 15 million euros in the restoration of the castle in recent years. It is finally completely up to date,”
the Minister explains.
“Now it is time to make sure that everyone discovers the castle and that our efforts pay off.”
That is already working out quite well, because the catering industry in the area around Gaasbeek Castle has received a boost, according to Weyts:
“We are already very happy with that. Now we want to connect the castles and estates even more, so that all the attractions in the region get the same boost.”
The cycle route takes tourists past the Rubens Castle in Elewijt, the castle of Groot-Bijgaarden, the castle of Bouchout, the castle of Gaasbeek and that of Beersel.
“There are many fascinating stories to tell about all these castles,”
Weyts explains.
“Think of the story of Everaard t’Serclaes, whose statue stands on the corner of the Grote Markt in Brussels.”
Minister of the Flemish Periphery Ben Weyts (N-VA) said:
“People come from far and wide to rub the statue for luck in love. And yet many do not know that his story is intertwined with the castle of Gaasbeek, because the rebellious Brussels citizen rebelled against the lord of the castle of Gaasbeek. t’Serclaes was eventually even murdered in Lennik.”
To get those stories to tourists, Weyts wants to use Zaventem airport, a stone’s throw from Brussels and in the Flemish periphery.
“We did that when we wanted to promote the Flemish Primitives,”
he says.
“That worked well then, so we can also put our castles in the spotlight that way.”
How will the cycle route enhance tourism in the Flemish periphery?
The cycling route develops connections between castles and estates throughout the region, thus enabling tourism growth at various attractions. Visitors to Brussels find the Flemish periphery attractive because it mixes natural rural landscapes with historical remnants of the past, according to Weyts.
Through historical narration and smart promotional tactics, the project intends to boost public knowledge and attraction levels. The initiative supports overall plans to make the Flemish periphery a mandatory destination for holidaymakers from Belgium and worldwide.
