Two Bikes, Two Friends, and Belgian Brews
From June 6 to June 8 this year, we set off on a different kind of adventure—a beer pilgrimage! Starting in Cologne, we hopped on our old bikes for a 250 km journey with 1,600 meters of elevation. My trusty Raleigh bike (the one that miraculously survived the Alps) and my buddy’s ancient Perpignan were the stars of the show. Our mission? To reach the Grimbergen Abbey and try every beer they had on tap—obviously the most important goal of the trip. We pedaled from Cologne to Brückenkopf Park near Elsdorf, then pushed through the Ardennes, with stops in Maastricht and Tongeren, before cruising into Neerlinter.
- Dates: June 6, 2024 – June 9, 2024
- Total Distance: 250 km
- Elevation Gain: 1,600 meters
- Route: Cologne → Brückenkopf Park (near Elsdorf) → Ardennes → Maastricht → Tongeren → Neerlinter → Leuven (Artois brewery) → Grimbergen Abbey
- Final Day: Grimbergen → Brussels, then bus back to Cologne
- Highlights: Private tour of Grimbergen Abbey chambers, secret Grimbergen window, abbey gardens
- Bike Incident: Only two flat tires, no broken frames this time!
- Overall Vibe: Great weather, strong Belgian beer, and loads of fun!
On the last day, we made a quick pit stop at the Artois brewery in Leuven before heading to the holy land: Grimbergen Abbey, arriving on June 8. Mission: accomplished! The Grimbergen Abbey has burned down multiple times, hence the famous phoenix on the logo. After testing all the beers (for research purposes, of course), we were lucky enough to get a private tour of the abbey’s chambers, where we even saw the secret Grimbergen window. Then we strolled through the private abbey gardens with our guide—who, like us, was starting to feel the effects of those strong Belgian beers. Let’s just say it was a very merry experience!
After all that, we biked to Brussels, from where we hopped on a bus back to Cologne—short, sweet, and full of great memories. A bikepacking tour with just two flat tires, no broken frames this time (thankfully), and plenty of laughs. Thank you, Belgium. Thank you, Grimbergen. What an awesome way to spend a few days on two wheels!
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