Gordelfestival: Discover Brussels' greenery by group on 3 September

How green can a capital be? Anyone who has never visited the Gordelfestival before and who is a little bit sporty can discover the splendour of the Brussels periphery on the final day of the summer holidays. You get to know the environment in a new, pleasant way and can learn about the local culture. For the first time, you’ll be able to do this in pack, which means you’ll be part of a group of 125 cyclists – and this for the full 100km. The ideal way to meet people here and there, no?

From 8.00 in the morning, a new group will leave every 20 minutes from the focus district of Sint-Pieters-Leeuw. At an estimated average speed of 26 to 28kph, anyone with a little bit of training should be able to easily handle this pace. And if not, just sweat it out – that’s how bonds are formed. The finish is in Huizingen, where you can relax and catch your breath at the local provincial domain. Hitting the pedals is a must as electric bikes are not allowed.

If two-wheelers aren’t your thing, there’ll definitely be something else to your taste among the many other cultural activities organised around the loop. For a mix of culture and sports, head on over to the start and finish in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw and Huizingen respectively. The first has an internationally praised rose garden, so green fingers know where to go. Taste-the-region routes that allow you to literally breathe in the smells of Belgian culture will also be on offer.

At the finish, you’ll find a sports village where young and old alike can discover the strangest sports, as well as a regional product market for foodies. You’ll also be able to sample distinctly Belgian musical ingredients in the form of live music concerts.

Advance registrations required, more information about the fifth edition of the Gordelfestival can be found here.