The Jumbo-Visma rider was uncontested as he launched a breakaway just before the final climb.

He crested the Bosberg with an approximate 10-second lead and managed to ride to the finish line unaccompanied.

Italian Sonny Colbrelli of Team Bahrain-Victorious won the sprint for silver out of a 20-strong group while Van Aert's compatriot and AG2R Citroën rider Greg van Avermaet followed just behind for bronze.

Van Aert was greeted by adoring Flemish fans as he cruised to the line as celebrations began for the first Belgian victor in the race for 33 years.

His team mate and countryman Tiesj Benoot led the group over the top of the Muur-Kapelmuur having attacked earlier out of a strong group which included Van Aert, Colbrelli and other pre-race favourites Stefan Kung of Switzerland, Belgian Florian Vermeersch and Britain's Tom Pidcock.

However, when Benoot was caught on the subsequent defence by Van Aert he was unable to recover.

Belgium's Victor Campanaerts posted a surprising fifth place finish.

His race looked certain to have come to a premature end when he crashed and was forced to change his bike.

Despite this, he fought back and found the strength to pull off a sprint finish.

It was the second event of the International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour following the UAE Tour which also finished today.

The Emirati event began on February 20 and was won by Tadej Pogačar of Slovenia.

The Omloop Het Nieuwsblad marks the beginning of the Belgian cycling season, as well as the first race of the year in northwestern Europe.

The second race of the opening weekend is the Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne one-day event which is held in Flanders and is set to take place tomorrow.