Kayaking on the Dender River
Canoe weekend from Geraardsbergen to Aalst
What’s the ideal holiday? Is it seeing things from a different perspective? Calmer; at a pace that you would otherwise never achieve. Jollier; by seizing opportunities to be silly and get to know each other in a different way. More adventurous; by doing things you are not used to. More natural; by diving into an environment where you’ll be amazed by small and wonderful moments around every corner.
If you agree with all of the above, you probably already have your life jacket on! From April on, you can canoe on the Dender River.
Conquer nature and the landscape
Born in the Walloon town of Ath, the Dender crosses the language border between Deux-Acren and Geraardsbergen. By the time the water passes Het Bruggenhuis in Overboelare, it has become a mature river embedded in the landscape around the Tour of Flanders. It’s just waiting to be explored. You can do that on foot or by bike on trails, but a river wouldn’t be a river if you didn’t go boating on it. Het Bruggenhuis is the starting point for those who want to spend a few hours on the water and for those who want to go on a multi-day canoe trip.
In recent decades, the Dender River has had the opportunity to recover fully from an industrial past. Fortunately, nature has regained the upper hand once again. Fauna and flora are clearly pleased. They do not hesitate to show it every season over a distance of 65 km between Geraardsbergen and Aalst. As tempting as the water is, you frequently pass places and sights that require you to set foot on shore.
For a while or a weekend
You can rent tandem canoes (for 2 people) for one, two or three hours. But a two-day or three-day canoe weekend is also a possibility. Each person is provided with a paddle and a life jacket. Duos are provided with a canoe, one waterproof barrel (not that we suspect that something or someone might get wet), and one canoe cart to move the boat around the locks comfortably. A child up to the age of ten or a dog with sea legs can travel on board.
Canoeing per hour
1. You start your trip at Het Bruggenhuis in Overboelare - Majoor Van Lierdelaan 50, 9500 Geraardsbergen. The café is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so you cannot rent canoes then. On all other days, canoes can be rented between 11:00 and 19:00.
2. From Overboelare, you paddle upstream for 5 km towards the lock at Deux-Acren (about 2 hours round trip).
3. Those who want to canoe for three hours can also explore the Mark River.
4. And the price? €8 for the first hour, €13 for two hours and €18 for three hours.
Rent your canoe
Canoe weekend
1. Both children (from 6 years of age) and adults can participate. The weekends are suitable for true sports enthusiasts and budding adventurers. The dog can also come along.
2. You can choose whether to make it a two or three-day event. You arrange your own accommodation and meals.
3. View the map, which lists accommodations, cafés, restaurants, shops, landing spots, tourist information, etc.
4. And the price? Rental of the boat(s) and all the additional equipment (life jacket, paddle, canoe cart): €35 per person per day. For an additional child (in the same canoe, without a paddle), the price is €20 per day.
5. Departure on Saturday morning (between 09:00 and 10:00) at Het Bruggenhuis in Overboelare - Majoor Van Lierdelaan 50, 9500 Geraardsbergen. If groups would like to make the trip at a different time and require five or more canoes, each request will be considered individually.
Download the map
In Geraardsbergen, you can stay at:
• Campsite Provincial Domain De Gavers
In Lierde, you can stay at:
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