From Brussels to Ghent : By bicycle – Testimony

Setting off on a three-day journey through country roads, five young cyclists gave their all to reach the Flemish city. Punctuated by welcome breaks, nights spent camping, and a few unexpected bike repairs, the adventure offered a breath of fresh air to the cheerful group.

Testimony from Giulia Marcuccio , volunteer at Dynamo International:

“On April 28, my colleague Imane, five young people and I set off for the “Bicicletta” camp. “Bicicletta” is the Italian word for “bike” and indeed, the goal of this three-day camp was to explore Belgium by bicycle, all the way to the city of Ghent.

Our journey was divided into three stages. We started from Dynamo International, and on the first day, we cycled through beautiful countryside, came across several animals, and after riding about 40 km, we arrived in Aalst. There, we camped in our tents, warmly welcomed by a woman who hosted us in her lovely garden.

The second day was fully dedicated to the stage between Aalst and Ghent, and it certainly wasn’t lacking in physical effort…or surprises ! Along the way, the wheel of the cart we were using to carry our tents and other gear got a flat tire. We had to stop, but within a very short time, the young people managed to replace the wheel, showing incredible skill and resourcefulness. We were soon back on the road and made it to our campsite in Ghent, covering nearly the same distance as the previous day.

We used the third day to explore the city, still by bike. It was fascinating to visit Saint Bavo’s Cathedral, admire the Castle of the Counts of Flanders, and ride through the famous Graffiti Street. The afternoon in Ghent was without a doubt one of the highlights of the camp : we enjoyed a well-deserved break by the lake near the campsite, eating fries. We wrapped up our journey by taking the train back to Brussels.

It was truly a rich and rewarding three days, full of sport, discovery, and sharing. We’re already looking forward to the next trip and who knows, maybe next time we’ll make it all the way to the sea!”