10 relaxed gravel rides in Belgium (no racing, just good vibes)
· Bike Your City
Gravel doesn't have to mean racing. Some of the best days on a gravel bike are relaxed ones: your own pace, quiet forest tracks, a good food stop, and a drink on the terrace afterwards. Belgium is full of these friendly club rides – so we picked ten chilled-out gravel events where nobody is timing you.
Most organisers publish their 2027 dates in winter or early spring. Below we give the latest known date – always check the event page before you go. We'll keep this list updated.
10 relaxed gravel rides in Belgium
1. Brueghelbikers MTB & Gravel ride – Grote-Brogel (Peer, Limburg)
Sun 6 December 2026. Gravel loops from 11 to 51 km on the forest tracks around Peer and Bocholt, a generous food stop with rice pudding, soup, fruit and cake, and a free hot dog at the finish. Showers, secure bike parking and a cosy club canteen. A perfect winter outing.
2. Gravel “Les 7 péchés capitaux” – Thuin (Hainaut)
2026 edition: Sun 15 March. A gravel rando from the local cycling club: 57 or 87 km with two food stops each, then showers, bike wash, bar and BBQ.
3. Belgium Bike Festival – Andenne (Namur)
2026 edition: 10–12 April. A bike festival open to everyone: gravel, MTB and road rides, an expo village, a family ride, a “balade gourmande” and free bike initiations for kids. Bring the whole family.
4. PlugPlug Voorkempen – Kalmthout (Antwerp)
Expected Mon 19 April 2027 (to be confirmed). 60, 100 or 150 km. The route is flat and not technical, green from start to finish, passing Westmalle Abbey and plenty of terraces for a break.
5. Gravel Festival – Genk (Limburg)
2026 edition: Sat 30 May. A 90 km gravel ride through Limburg's finest nature, into the National Park and across the Dutch border for a pit stop. Ride at your own pace with a GPX track, food stop included, and an afterparty with demos at the Mountainbike Festival.
6. Gravel op de Grens – Geluveld (West Flanders)
2026 edition: Tue 21 July (national holiday). 60, 80 or 110 km through the rolling West Flemish countryside, starting from a village café. Friendly price, friendly vibe.
7. Tielen MTB + Gravel Tour – Tielen (Kasterlee, Kempen)
Usually in September. 80 or 100 km gravel loops through the Kempen woods, tasty food stops and a final drink on the club terrace.
8. Traxxion GPS Gravelrit – Drongen (Ghent)
2026 edition: Sat 17 October. 63 or 90 km of mostly off-road paths west of Ghent, rated “average” difficulty, with two food stops, showers, bike wash and guarded bike parking.
9. Rando VTT & Gravel de Liège – Liège
Open to families and experienced riders alike: gravel loops of 44, 53 and 60 km, MTB loops from 10 km, and free for kids under 12. Locals ride there by bike.
10. Rando Découverte Gravel – all over Wallonia
A series of gravel discovery rides by the Walloon cycle-touring federation, made to explore a region without any competition: no imposed distance, speed or climbing, with an emphasis on shorter routes.
Close to home: a gravel loop in the Sonian Forest
No event needed: the Sonian Forest on the edge of Brussels has kilometres of forest tracks – beautiful with bluebells in spring and cool in summer. A moderate loop from Watermael-Boitsfort is a perfect first gravel ride.
Ready for more? Easy bikepacking
- Hardennes Gravel Tour – HGT 100 Rando (Ardennes): non-competitive, no timing, no ranking. The 100 km “Rando” is the friendly option of this self-supported Ardennes adventure. Check-in on 16 May 2027.
- Wallonia Gravel Tour: a four-day gravel tour by the Walloon cycle-touring federation, with a “tourist” option staying in youth hostels with meals. The 2026 edition started in Remouchamps (20–23 August).
- Start with one night: take the train to Leuven, Namur or the Ardennes, ride 50–70 km, sleep in a B&B, ride back. Pack light in a frame bag and a seat pack – see Restrap and Ortlieb.
- Use the cycling junctions to link gravel sections via quiet roads – read our guide to the junction network.
Sources: event pages of the organisers, toertochten.be, Sport Vlaanderen, velo-liberte.be (FFBC), Sporza and komoot.
Get your bike ready with us
Want to try gravel? Come by the shop in Laeken: we help you choose a gravel bike, set up comfy tubeless tyres and bags, and give your bike a check before the ride.