Discover Denderleeuw: Water, Nature and History

Denderleeuw combines water, nature and a surprising amount of history within a compact area. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home can discover the town according to how they want to spend each day: with a canoe trip on the Dender, along walking trails through a floodplain or following in the footsteps of former bargemen and ship haulers.

Water activities on the Dender

Tandem canoes are used for canoe trips in Denderleeuw. One child under the age of ten may also sit in each tandem canoe without a paddle. This makes it possible to plan a shared activity in which not all participants have to take on the same role. Kayak trips on the Dender can also start at the Schiptrekkersbrug in Denderleeuw. Those who want to plan their stay around a water activity therefore have a specific focus for their travel plans.

The Schiptrekkersbrug also commemorates the men and women who pulled ships forward from the bank with ropes until the beginning of the 20th century. Bronze scallop shells in Denderleeuw also mark the Via-Tenera pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Here, the waterscape and pilgrimage markers represent different ways of experiencing the town: actively on the river or attentively along a historic route.

Nature reserve and routes for different day plans

The Welle- and Kapellemeersen nature reserve is one of the last floodplains in the Dender Valley. It lies on both sides of the Dender and stretches between the village centres of Denderleeuw and Erembodegem. Walking trails run through the natural area along both banks of the Dender. For your travel plans, this means you can combine a day by the water with a walk without having to make culture or local history the main focus of your stay.

Another option is the Schiptrekkers cycling route. It starts at 't Kasteeltje in Denderleeuw, and half of the route runs along the water. Those who would rather explore Denderleeuw by bicycle than on foot therefore have their own way of experiencing the landscape.

Village Centre, Country House and Commemorative Heritage

The historic village centre of Denderleeuw is protected as a village landscape. A significant historical perspective comes from looking at shipping: around 1860, Denderleeuw had about 50 bargemen and nearly 100 ship haulers. These figures give the Schiptrekkersbrug and the waterways a specific historical context without making a stay revolve around a single theme.

't Kasteeltje is located at the starting point of the cycling route. The country house, now called 't Kasteeltje, is a neo-Gothic building dating from 1906 and is situated near Denderleeuw railway station. Passage 18 was opened as a new leisure centre for the public and was intended as an open house for reading, learning and discovery. This allows you to choose between different focuses when planning your trip, from landscapes and architectural history to public cultural venues.

Denderleeuw as a Holiday Destination

For families and other travellers who enjoy combining several interests, Denderleeuw offers a varied selection: a shared canoe trip, paths through the nature reserve, a cycle tour by the water or an exploration of the history of shipping. A holiday apartment in Denderleeuw is particularly suitable as a base if you want to organise your days flexibly between exercise, observing nature and cultural discoveries. What matters is less a uniform programme than which of these facets you want to define your stay.

You can find more places in the same overview at Wetteren, Knesselare, Nevele, Lierde, Dendermonde, Maarkedal, Laarne and Aalter.

For the higher-level travel overview: East Flanders.