Cycle loop 15 watermills on the 3 Molenbeken and the Maalbeek. Departure 's Gravenmolen, Grimbergen

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90 km
251 m
06h00
Hard

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Last verified: 16 June 2025
Azure

Description by the author

This large cycle loop takes you past the 15 (remnants of) watermills along the three Molenbeken: the (Amelgem) Molenbeek, the Kleine Molenbeek, the Grote Molenbeek; and the Maelbeek. These streams flow into each other or have a source very close to each other. As a result, this cycle loop is also a loop along natural watercourses that are connected to each other.
We start at the mouth of the Amelgemse Molenbeek and the Maalbeek, and cycle down the loop in a counterclockwise direction (start approximately at the mouth of the Amelgemse Molenbeek near the 's Gravenmolen in Grimbergen; see POI https://www.routeyou.com/location/view/47534072/monding-kleine-molenbeek-in-maalbeek.nl).

According to the passage of the bicycle loop, you have the following water mills and water connections:
On the (Amelgemse) Molenbeek (upstream to its source):
Nekkermolen and Amelgemmolen.

The source of the (Amelgem) Molenbeek and the small Molenbeek originate on both sides of the ridge on which the Roman Baan is located through Brussegem (See POI https://www.routeyou.com/location/view/47532627/heuvelrug-tussen-de-bronnen-van-de-amelgemmolenbeek-en-de.nl). We cycle from one source to another via the shortest green road.
On the Kleine Molenbeek (downstream to its mouth in the Grote Molenbeek):
Baggemolen, Drie Torens molen (or Ursenemolen, building not visible from public land), Koevoetmolen and Schemelbertmolen.

At the mouth of the Kleine Molenbeek into the Grote Molenbeek (above Puurs between Grote and Kleine Amer) we take the Grote Molenbeek (upstream to its source):
Herbodinnenmolen, Diepensteynmolen, Marselaersmolen, Langeveldemolen, Binnenmolen, Ichtegemmolen and Neerkammolen.

The sources of the Grote Molenbeek and Maalbeek are located along a ridge between Relegem (source Maelbeek) and Kobbegem (source Grote Molenbeek) less than 900 meters apart (see POI https://www.routeyou.com/location/view/47532261/bronnengebied-grote-molenbeek-en-maalbeek.nl). We cycle from one source to another via the shortest green road.
On the Maelbeek (downstream to the mouth of the Amelgem Molenbeek - the starting point of the cycle loop-):
Sprietmolen, (then the mouth of the Amelgemse Molenbeek in the Maalbeek,) and the 's Gravenmolen.

You will find all the details about these mills or its remains at this location:
http://www.molenechos.org/kijk.php?provincie2=Vlaams-Brabant&sb=type&so=ASC&view_records=+Toon&AdvSearch=AdvSearch&db=bestaand

For most of them, the lockwork and water wheel are not visible from accessible terrain, the lockwork and water wheel have been partially or completely removed, or the lock walls and breakwater have also been removed.

Take the Interactive map, zoom in on the loop between Malderen (top left Londerzeel) and Grimbergen, and then click on the watermill POIs for the correct location, the streetscape and the current situation.

The most recent paved paths and landscaped cycle paths are used. And to stay close to the streams, they are crossed several times.
Other sights on the loop (see POIs): Boechout Castle, various chapels and (square) hooves, Fort of Lippelo, Castle of the Counts in Lippelo, water castle Diepensteyn, etc. All this topped by many meanders and natural beauty. Certain small sections are not suitable for riding a road bike at 30km/h, so take your time every now and then.

The GPX of the bicycle loop starts at the 's Gravenmolen in Grimbergen
You can of course start and stop the loop at any other point.

Naming (which is not strictly used here):
The Grote Molenbeek is given the following names from its source to its mouth in the Zeeschelde (source NGI): Grote Molenbeek --> Lippelose Beek (after confluence with a stream from the Lippelobos at the Kasteel Hof te Melis) on the border Malderen (Londerzeel)-Lippelo --> Vliet (after confluence with the Klaverbeek -formerly Vondelbeek-) between Lippelo and Oppuurs.
Other sources speak of the name change Grote Molenbeek-->Vliet after the confluence Grote Molenbeek and the (small) Molenbeek northeast of Puurs.
The Maelbeek is given the following names from its source to its mouth in the Senne: Landbeek --> Maalbeek (from the Maalbeekstraat at the town hall in Wemmel).

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Route origin

Route description

Region

Statistics

Difficulty level: Hard (83/100)

Length: 90 km

Duration: 06h00


Total ascent: 251 m

Maximal slope: 3.7 %

Average slope: 0.8 %

Net ascent: 0 m

Total descent: 251 m

Difficulty level according to the author: 4/10

Roads and subsoil

Paved roads: 59.8 km (66 %)

Cobblestones: 2.95 km (3 %)

Bike paths: 37.2 km (41 %)

Scenery

Car free roads: 29.5 km (33 %)

Noise pollution

Amount of traffic


Natural area

Urban area

Water rich area

Characteristics

    Themes

      Groups

        Start and end of the route

        Closest address to start: 's Gravenmolenstraat 70, 1850 Grimbergen, België / Belgique / Belgien
        Closest address to end: Nekkerweg, 1850 Grimbergen, België / Belgique / Belgien

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        Activities

        Nearby

        Routes nearby

        Lodging nearby

        Services nearby

        Bouchout Castle
        Belgian chocolate
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        Villa Tartine Bed & Breakfast
        Lippelo
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        Palm Breweries
        Palm Breweries
        Merchtem
        St. Joseph's Chapel
        Neerkammolen
        St. Stephen's Church
        Sint-Servaas
        Wemmel
        0 km5 km10 km15 km20 km25 km30 km35 km40 km45 km50 km55 km60 km65 km70 km75 km80 km85 km90 km90 km0 m74 m
        PLUS
        500 m

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