In the heart of Belgian Limburg, a 212-meter concrete pathway does something that had never been done before.
It doesn’t go over water or around it.
It goes straight through it.
Cycling Through Water in Bokrijk is the world’s first sunken cycle path, dropping riders 1.6 meters below the surface of a pond in the De Wijers nature reserve. The concept sounds impossible until you experience it yourself.
You pedal onto what appears to be a normal path, then gradually descend until water flanks you at eye level on both sides. Halfway across, you’re cycling with shimmering water stretching out in every direction at your shoulders.
From a distance, it looks surreal. Just heads bobbing along at the water’s surface, moving steadily from one bank to the other.
The path welcomes up to 5,000 cyclists on peak days, along with walkers and runners who come to feel what it’s like to be surrounded by water without getting wet.
Since opening in April 2016, hundreds of thousands have made the pilgrimage to experience this one-of-a-kind sensation.
Engineering That Earned Global Recognition
This wasn’t just a creative idea, it was a masterclass in thoughtful design. Lens°Ass Architecten collaborated with BuroLandschap to create something that would amaze people while respecting the delicate ecosystem it cuts through. The result was so impressive that in 2018, the project won the World Landscape Architecture Award in the “Built Design – Small Scale” category.
The engineers had to solve a complex puzzle. How do you build a concrete structure through a living pond without destroying bird migration routes or disrupting aquatic currents? The answer required careful planning and environmental sensitivity at every stage.
The path had to be strong enough to handle thousands of daily visitors, yet subtle enough not to harm the amphibians, fish, and birds that call De Wijers home.
The concrete construction maintains structural integrity while keeping the water clean and clear. Traditional water management systems called “monniken,” dating back to medieval times, were reconstructed as part of the project.
These historic regulators help maintain proper water levels and quality throughout the 700-hectare pond system.
Nature Improved, Not Interrupted
Here’s what makes this project truly remarkable. Most infrastructure disrupts nature. This one actually improved it. The Cycling Through Water project accelerated Bokrijk’s new woodland and landscape management plan, benefiting the entire region’s flora and fauna.
By opening the dikes and modernizing water regulation, the ponds now stay cleaner for longer periods. This directly improved survival rates for amphibians living in the reserve. Ecological corridors were created between ponds, allowing animals to move freely through their habitat. What started as a tourist attraction became a catalyst for environmental renewal.
De Wijers, known as “the land of 1,001 ponds,” is a mosaic of water bodies that are remnants of historic fish farms. The reserve spans approximately 700 hectares and represents one of Belgium’s most important wetland ecosystems.
The cycling path sits at junction 91 of Limburg’s extensive cycle node network, making it easily accessible as part of longer routes through Hoge Kempen National Park.
A Blueprint for Future Infrastructure
Cycling Through Water proves that human recreation and environmental protection aren’t opposing forces.
They can strengthen each other when approached with intelligence and respect. The path demonstrates how infrastructure can serve multiple purposes: providing unique experiences for visitors while actively improving the natural environment it inhabits.
The project involved collaboration between Visit Limburg, the Province of Limburg, Bokrijk, Natuur en Bos, Erfgoed Vlaanderen, Natuurpunt, Vlaamse Landmaatschappij, and local municipalities. This partnership model shows what’s possible when tourism, conservation, and heritage preservation work together rather than compete.
Nearly a decade after opening, Cycling Through Water remains the only structure of its kind in the world. It stands as both an engineering marvel and a reminder that the best innovations make us reconsider what’s possible.
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