A Path That Finally Makes Sense for Gravel Cyclists
Belgium's love affair with cycling just got a little more interesting. A fresh 50-kilometer gravel path has opened in Diksmuide, a town in West Flanders that's already packed with World War I history. Called the Frontzate route, it's designed for the growing crowd of riders who want firm ground beneath their tires, not pavement, and definitely not technical mountain terrain.
Finding legitimate gravel routes in West Flanders has always been a headache. Sure, cyclists could download routes from Strava or Komoot, but many cut through private land or protected nature reserves where bikes aren't welcome. "The problem," explains Jesse Clarysse of Sport Vlaanderen (Flanders' sports administration), "is that these routes are not always officially accessible." That gap is exactly what the new Frontzate route fills.
Built for Beginners, Open to Everyone
The route stretches about half its distance on unpaved surfaces, with roughly 12 meters of elevation gain spread across the entire loop. Translation: this isn't a leg-destroyer. Families, beginners trying gravel for the first time, and anyone who wants a comfortable pace will feel right at home. "There is also a strong focus on safety," Clarysse adds. More experienced riders can treat it as a warm-up or incorporate it into a longer ride.
The timing couldn't be better. Gravel bikes are booming in Belgium, with over 23,000 sold in 2025 alone, and sales climbing by 3,000 to 4,000 units annually. Mountain bike sales are actually shrinking as cyclists gravitate toward the versatility gravel bikes offer. Diksmuide's new route taps directly into this trend.
Where History and Cycling Collide
What makes this route special isn't just the surface. Starting from the IJzerboomgaard provincial estate, riders pass memorials and monuments connected to World War I. You'll pedal past the Dodengang memorial and the Trench of Silence, haunting reminders of the region's devastating past. For a town already defined by its WWI heritage, the gravel path offers locals and visitors alike a fresh way to connect with that history.
The route doesn't exist in isolation either. Four strategic stops provide genuine reasons to dismount: Café de IJzerboomgaard at the starting point, Perron 74 at the 11-kilometer mark, Boer Bart further along, and restaurant Zannekin near the 36-kilometer point. These aren't random cafés; they're built into the route as natural rest spots.
Getting on the Path
One catch: the route isn't physically signposted yet. Instead, cyclists can download the GPX file from Diksmuide's official website to navigate using their phone or GPS device. It's a small inconvenience for what's otherwise a well-planned cycling experience.
Marc De Keyrel, Diksmuide's alderman for Sports, sees this as just the beginning. "We want to stimulate residents as well as visitors to get on their bike and to discover our region in an active way," he told local media. "Over the next few years, we aim to develop even more offroad routes."
For travelers exploring Belgium beyond the usual Brussels-Bruges circuit, West Flanders offers quieter appeal. If you're combining cycling with Belgian rail travel, many Belgian travelers are ditching planes for European trains, making it easier than ever to reach Diksmuide and explore the region on two wheels.
