This route marks the first contribution from Menno Snijders. A member of Grupetto Sterrato and someone who knows how to put together a ride that works just as well for conversation as it does for turning the legs. The loop was ridden in December 2025 as part of a gravel and MTB event organised in and around Westmalle by the local cycling club.
Westmalle sits close to Antwerp in a region in the north of Belgium known for its forests, sandy soils, and quiet backroads. Never really far from the industrial sight at the port of Antwerp. It is an area that lends itself naturally to gravel riding. Not mountainous, but layered and calm. The kind of landscape where routes reveal themselves slowly rather than all at once.
Leaving the village, the ride quickly slips into a mix of forest tracks, farm roads, and long gravel stretches that feel purpose built for social riding. Nothing here is overly technical, but the variety keeps it engaging. Hard packed paths through pine forests alternate with looser sections and small connectors that link one quiet pocket of countryside to the next.
December riding adds its own character. Damp surfaces, muted colours, and that familiar winter stillness where the sound of tyres on gravel carries further than usual. It is the sort of route where pacing matters less than flow, and where riding together feels natural.
This loop showcases why the area around Westmalle works so well for gravel. Flat enough to stay accessible, varied enough to stay interesting, and quiet enough to forget how close you are to larger towns and roads. It is a route built for enjoyment rather than difficulty, and a fitting first contribution from Menno to Gravelnomads.
A social ride by design, and a reminder that good gravel does not need big elevation to leave an impression.
I’m an outdoor-minded rider who fully embraced gravel riding three years ago. When I’m not on the bike, you’ll usually find me running trails and spending time in nature. Nothing is too much, as long as there’s enjoyment to be found in the challenge. If you're living in the Netherlands or Belgium and you're interested in gravel riding and cool events also check out our passionate community Grupetto Sterrato.
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