Volkegemberg

Volkegemberg is a hill in the Vlaamse Ardennen (Flemish Ardennes) region, located in Volkegem, a sub-municipality of Oudenaarde in the East Flanders province of Belgium. The name refers both to the hill itself and to the main street of Volkegem village that climbs its slope — a common pattern in this region, where road and hill share one name.

Where does the name Volkegem come from?

Settlement here likely dates back to the 7th century. The name Volkegem is a contraction of "Fulko's heim" — meaning "Fulko's home" — a typical Old Frankish naming pattern combining a personal name with the root "heim" (home, dwelling). For centuries Volkegem existed as its own municipality, and among the families who held the lordship over the village was the de la Kethulle family in the 16th century. In 1965, Volkegem was merged into the municipality of Oudenaarde.

How high is the hill and what does the road look like?

The climb starts at roughly 30 meters above sea level, in a small valley, and reaches a summit of 84 meters. Just to the north of Volkegemberg, rising from the same valley up the same slope, lies the neighboring Wolvenberg — the two hills share a common geological origin and a similar profile.

Until 1982, the entire road up the hill was paved with cobblestones — about 1,200 meters of gently rising cobbled surface. After 1982, most of the route was asphalted, leaving only around 200 meters of cobblestones near the summit as a reminder of the road's earlier character.

Why is Volkegemberg known among cyclists?

The hill is one of the distinctive, if not particularly demanding, climbs of the Flemish Ardennes, regularly featured in the route profiles of the region's classic cycling races, such as Dwars door Vlaanderen. The climb runs for about one kilometer with an average gradient of roughly 4.8–5.1% and a maximum gradient reaching 10% — a profile local cycling guides describe as relatively gentle compared with the steeper "bergs" found elsewhere in Flanders, and the remaining cobbled section is reported to be in good condition.

Hills like Volkegemberg and neighboring Wolvenberg shape the characteristic rolling landscape of the Vlaamse Ardennen — a region that draws thousands of amateur cyclists each year retracing the routes of the professional classics, as well as hikers and cycle tourists drawn to the views over the surrounding valleys and villages.

Frequently asked questions

How high is Volkegemberg? The climb rises from about 30 to 84 meters above sea level.

Is Volkegemberg still cobbled? Yes, about 200 meters near the summit retain the original cobbled surface; the rest of the road, once fully cobbled, is now asphalted.

Is Volkegemberg part of famous cycling races? Yes, the hill features in the routes of Flemish Ardennes classics, including Dwars door Vlaanderen.

Where exactly is Volkegemberg located? In Volkegem, a sub-municipality of Oudenaarde in East Flanders, Belgium, within the region known as the Vlaamse Ardennen.