Fairly basic accommodation on the previous night, no coffee and emergency speculaas for breakfast. Early start and 45 km before stopping for koffie times 2 in Hoegaarden. On past the brewery (part of the InBev empire) then stopped in the village of Meldert to watch the Whit Monday procession for local Saint Ermelinda.

Small cobbled climb then through beautiful Meerdalwoud.

My planned route mets its Waterloo near Groenendaal due to a large road/rail construction site - geographically appropriate for the site of Bonaparte's defeat just a little further south. On through beautiful forest south of Brussel and to Goik. Interesting accommodation: loft in an old barn, WC in a shed, and an al fresco shower.