The Krawatencross is raced in the Lilse Bergen, a wooded recreation area around a swimming lake in Lille in the Antwerp Kempen. Its course follows the sandy shore of the lake and links the long sand sections with wooded paths, bridges and stairs, so it is a race for riders who are at home in sand. It was first held in 1992, and Sven Nys holds the record with seven wins, while Mathieu van der Poel won four times between 2015 and 2019. On the final lap in 2017, Wout van Aert nearly ran Van der Poel into the fences and then misjudged a corner and had to dismount, and Van der Poel went on to win. In 2023 Laurens Sweeck, a sand specialist, attacked from the start and beat Lars van der Haar by two seconds after accelerating along the water on the last lap. Coming after the World Championships, it is one of the last big wins of the winter.