13.6 Merelbeke - Knokke-Heist
THURSDAY 13 JUNE
- This is what the course in Merelbeke and Knokke-Heist looks like:
- Start: Hundelgemssesteenweg, Merelbeke
- Finish: De Wandelaar, Knokke-Heist
- Program:
- The full program will follow later
Ahead of the competition, you can find the list of participants here.
Are you looking for all practical information about the Baloise Belgium Tour? Then you can download our free fan guide below.
It gives you the timetables and roadmaps, but also everything you need to know about mobility and unmissable start presentations. Continue reading and be prepared for the start!
Merelbeke
There will be two large bicycle parking areas next to the library (accessible via the wegel Dijsegem) and behind the Vredegerecht (accessible via the Hundelgemsesteenweg).
The start zone will be completely traffic-free. Therefore, it will be impossible to park in the immediate vicinity.
The Tramstelplaats and Gemeentehallen are the nearest car parks accessible to the public. Other car parks in the vicinity are reserved for the organisers and race jury.
Stopping and parking along both sides of the local course is banned between 11am and 2:30pm, except where parking is possible next to the carriageway.
De Lijn will not serve the Molenhoek and Merelbeke-kerk stops in either direction.
Check the De Lijn website.
Knokke-Heist
The easiest way to reach the Baloise Belgium Tour is by bike.
Knokke-Heist is easily accessible by car via the major roads E34, E40 and A11:
From Amsterdam, Düsseldorf, Antwerp: E34 direction Knokke-Heist
From Cologne, Luxemburg, Brussels: E40 direction Bruges, then N31/A11
From London, Calais: E40 direction Bruges, then N31/A11
From Geneva, Paris: E403 direction Bruges, then N31/A1
There is a wide range of parking options when visiting Knokke-Heist by car. You can park your car on the street, or you can use the three underground car parks.
ON-STREET PARKING
All information about on-street parking, including the different zones and price list, can be found here.
People with disabilities
People with a parking disc for disabled drivers can park anywhere in the blue zones. In the pay zones, you pay the rate of the 1-hour parking zone, and you can park for 4 hours. If you want to park all day, you pay the 2-hour parking rate.
UNDERGROUND CAR PARKS
The underground car parks are in the centre of Knokke-Heist and are safe, modern, and very accessible.
Knokke-Heist has three public underground car parks:
Parking Stadhuis
Verweeplein 1
8300 Knokke-Heist
Parking Ijzerpark
Dumortierlaan 90A
8300 Knokke-Heist
Parking Minigolf Zoute
Sparrendreef 103
8300 Knokke-Heist
Train
Trains run every hour from Knokke via Bruges to Brussels Airport. The Belgian railway company (NMBS-SNCF) offers different fares aimed at specific target groups. To find out which ticket works best for you, please consult their website: www.belgianrail.be.
Knokke-Heist has 3 NMBS stations:
- Knokke station
- Duinbergen station
- Heist station
Bus
From Knokke station, regular buses take you quickly and easily to the far corners of the municipality:
- Bus 12 runs to De Oosthoek via Het Zoute.
- Bus 3 runs to Ramskapelle via Heist.
- Bus 44 runs to Westkapelle via the hospital.
In Westkapelle, you can change to continue your journey to Bruges (buses 41 or 42) or to Sluis/Breskens via (bus 42).
It is best to use De Lijn’s routeplanner for the timetable of all busses.
Coastal Tram
The De Lijn coastal tram takes you from Knokke-Heist to De Panne and stops in the various coastal towns.
It never takes long for a tram to come along, so you never have to wait long. The stops in Knokke-Heist are Knokke Station, Watertoren, Duinbergen Kerk, Heist Heldenplein and Heist Dijk.
In the summer months (July and August), there’s a tram every 10 minutes.
From the Easter holidays until the end of June, September to the autumn holidays and in the Christmas break, the tram runs every 15 minutes.
From the autumn to Easter holidays (except the Christmas break), the tram runs every 20 minutes.
At Knokke Station, there are connections to the buses.
You can also consult timetables online: www.delijn.be/nl/kusttram
De Lijn West-Vlaanderen
070 220 200 (0,30 euro / min)
wvl@delijn.be
Merelbeke, nearby Ghent, has a lot to offer, so you would do well to have a stopover. Breathe in the atmosphere, stroll across picturesque squares, cycle through magnificent nature and dive into a world of river tides.
Knokke-Heist is the coast town par excellence where everything revolves around having a good time. Classy enjoyment in unique surroundings where vibrant life and peaceful nature go hand in hand. The absolute world’s best in terms of exclusive shopping, top gastronomy and tasteful art.
