This year’s campaign is, of course, fully corona-proof while still enjoyable for everyone as the messages of peace are spread on the streets in a form of art. The #Murals4Change slowly pop up everywhere in Flanders. In this article, I’ve summarized most of the artworks which you may encounter during your Flanders trip.

Lichtervelde – West Flanders

The town of Lichtervelde became a bit more colorful with this Mural4Change. A small gesture, with a deeper meaning. You’ll find this message of peace walking towards the town square, along the Marktlaan. Mural created by local artist Bjorn Bossu (aka surroundedbygiants).

Kortemark – West Flanders

What puts this town on the map? Definitely the mural expressing the fights against injustice. This Mural4Change brightens the fields of Kortemark, thanks to several determined volunteers. The artwork is found at Edewallestraat 71, which is located on the road towards Kortemark center. Make-off:

Roeselare – West Flanders

Murals empower the message through art, a beautiful way to express the voices of the changemakers. Located near a busy roundabout, this wall shouts out to the Changemakers all over the world. This colorful message is created by Siva, a local artist who brightens the streets of Roeselare with more of his work.

Kortrijk – West Flanders

The megaphone is a symbol for giving a chance to speak up for those who need it or those who fight for better conditions for their community. This Mural4Change was created by Toon van Ishoven (aka #artoon), who adorns the streets of Belgium with his magic touch of art. More work by Toon Van Ishoven:

Destelbergen – East Flanders

The faces of the changemakers 2020 are now immortalized on the walls of Destelbergen. This Mural4Change was realized by Encq Re Dudder, who you may also know from the Greta Thunberg mural in Brussels, and graffiti artist Yvic Fiers who goes by ‘Niemand’. Make-off:

Changemakers 2020

Now, who are those ‘changemakers’ I keep mentioning? As the word explains itself the changemakers are those who fight for better conditions for their community. They speak up and make the world aware of their situation. Take Athit, for example, who fights for better working conditions at the clothing factories in Cambodia. Or Judith, a strong Congolese woman who comes up for better implementation of women’s rights in Congo. Discover more changemakers here.

What can you do?

Plenty of people are out there, spreading the messages of peace. Making the world a better place can be done in many ways, one of them is by supporting organizations such as 11.11.11. You can donate to 11.11.11 through this link, or support the local actions near you!

A special thanks to 11.11.11 and all volunteers for their input in this article. Cheers!

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Preparing yourself

• Read blogs & watch vlogs in order to get informed by likewise travelers. 
• Do a try-out trip 
• Choose your bike wisely 
• Make sure you get a comfortable saddle

On the road

• You should know it’s important to plan your day according to the amount of daylight (ex. difference winter-summer)
• It’s not a race. Like Katrien and Kobe say: “The kilometers per day is not what mattered to us; it’s the overall experience. And in the end, the distance you travel depends on yourself and your mood.“

Apps & websites

Accommodation

• Warmshowers: The perfect platform for people who are traveling by bike. According to Katrien and Kobe, the website works better than the app.
• Couchsurfing

Navigation

• Maps.me: Offers basic offline maps 
• OsmAnd: A bit more complicated than Maps.me to use but offers more in-depth (offline) information 
• iOverlander: finding camping spots & other points of interest

Communication

• Google translate: Offers a ‘translate by speech’ function and offline translations

Money

Find yourself a suitable budget-app that allows you to track the amount of money spend on certain necessities (for example Goodbudget).

Info about arranging visas

The website recommended by Katrien and Kobe is Caravanistan.com. There, you’ll find all the needed information and ongoing-forums for traveling to destinations on the Silk Road.

Anything to add? Contact me!

Feeling inspired? Check out the recent article about the adventure of Katrien and Kobe on the blog or learn more about sustainable travel.

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