Page 307 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

SPOR T S AND OUTDOOR A C TIVITIES  305

demarcated. Windsurfing is
practised on some recreational
lakes (see p195) as well. Kite-surfing
is also popular on the coast.

Sailing
Coastal sailing focusses on
the main ports and marinas
at Nieuwpoort, Oostende,
Blankenberge and Zeebrugge.
Canoeists at the launch of a voyage on the River Ambléve, near Coo There is also dinghy sailing on
some of the larger lakes. Sailing
federations such as Fédération
Swimming Waterskiing Francophone du Yachting Belge
There are plenty of public The lakes and broad rivers (FFYB) and Vlaamse Vereniging
swimming pools in Belgium of Belgium have numerous voor Watersport pro vide useful
and Luxembourg. In many of waterskiing centres. These information. Luxembourg likewise
these, both men and women are include the lakes of Barrage has a number of opportunities
expected to wear bathing caps, de l’Eau d’Heure and the River for sailing, overseen by the
usually available at the pool. Meuse (see p210) near Wépion Fédération Luxembourgeoise
Lifeguards oversee swimming and Profondeville. A good source de Voile.
areas at the coast and hoist flags of information is the Fédération
to indicate swimming conditions: Francophone du Ski Nautique
a red flag means bathing is Belge. Its parallel in Luxembourg, Sand Yachting
forbidden, a yellow flag calls for waterskiing on the Moselle At low tide, the hard surface
for extra caution and a green (see p253) and various lakes is the of the sand beaches along
flag means safe con ditions. Union Luxembourgeoise de Belgium’s coast provide the
Various lakes also have swim ming Ski Nautique. perfect conditions for sand
beaches, such as at the Lacs de yachts – wheeled vehicles with
l’Eau d’Heure (see p195). sails. This amusement is centuries
Windsurfing old; the great Bruges-born
The brisk breezes of the coast mathematician Simon Stevin
Fishing provide excellent conditions (1548–1620), had a 26-person
There is fishing of all kinds: on for windsurfing. De Panne, sand yacht with two sails. The
the coast, in rivers, lakes and Nieuwpoort, Oostende, De Haan, modern ver sion was invented
canals. A permit is needed for Zeebrugge and Knokke-Heist in the late 19th century near De
inland fishing. Details of this (see pp122–3) are all noted wind- Panne, the main centre for the
are available from the Service surfing centres, with surf shops sport. Novices must take a train ing
de la Pèche at the Ministry of where equipment can be course, for exam ple, at the
the Wallon Region and the bought or hired. On beaches Royal Sand Yacht Club, to
Fédération Sportive des shared with swimmers, there obtain a permit for recreational
Pêch eurs Francophone de are separate windsurfing areas sand yachting.
Belgique. In Luxembourg, per mits
are issued by local author ities or
District Commissariats, with Professional Cycling
details at tourist offices. Belgium ranks among the world’s top
professional cycling nations. It produced
probably the greatest cyclist to date: Eddy
Kayaking and Canoeing Merckx (b.1945), five times winner of the Tour
The best-known locations for de France and winner of over 140 other titles.
kayaking and canoeing are on Other great names include Rik Van Looy
Amblève (see p229), Semois (b.1933) and Roger de Vlaeminck (b.1947).
(see p232–3), Lesse (see p215) Belgium hosts several of the most important
and Ourthe (see p230). All of world cycling events, including two of the five A cyclist speeds
these have cen tres offering one-day classics called the Monuments. Of to victory
these, the Ronde van Vlaanderen (see p36)
equip ment and guides. includes the notorious cobbled climb, the Mur
The Nederlandstalig Kano de Grammont, while the Liège–Bastogne–Liège takes place in
Verbond, the Fédération the Ardennes. First held in 1882, the latter is the oldest of the
Francophone de Canoë et Monuments. Other key events include the Flèche Wallonne in April,
Kayak and the Fédération and the four-day Tour of Belgium in late May–early June. Zesdaagse
Luxembourgeoise de Canoë- Vlaanderen-Gent, the six-day European speed cycling race, is held in
Kayak offer information for late November.
novices and experts.

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