Belgium Traffic

Traffic report Belgium

Traveling to Belgium and going on vacation by car (and caravan), is a great outlook. Being well prepared for a long journey through Europe is half the job. Below you will find information on the busy roads, border crossings, traffic calendars, alternative routes, peak days and hours, traffic information services, etc., in Belgium.

Belgium Traffic Updates

Phone

• Federal Police: tel. 101 (for urgent emergency assistance).
• Touring Mobilis: tel. +32 2 286 30 40 (working days 9 am-12pm and 2 pm-5pm).
  
  

Radio

• RDS signal via VRT stations Radio 1, 2, Klara, Radio MNM and Studio Brussel.
• RTBF Radio 21 (French-speaking, FM frequencies are indicated on signs along the motorways).
• Commercial radio stations such as Q-Music, Joe FM and Radio Nostalgie.

Internet

• Federal Police: weginfo.be.
• Touring Club Belgique: touring.be.
• Mobility club VAB: vab.be.
• Brussels: mobilebrussels.irisnet.be.
• Antwerp: slimaanantwerpen.be
• Flanders: traffic center.be and wegwerken.be.
• Wallonia: trafiroutes.wallonie.be.

Traffic volume

Note: The information below applies under normal circumstances. However, most countries have introduced measures to prevent the spread of the corona virus. It is still unclear what effect this will have on traffic density in Belgium. Before you travel, consult the current information.

Busy roads

• E17 Ghent – Antwerp.
• E19 Breda – Antwerp.
• E25 Liège – Bastogne (Bastogne) – Arlon (Arlon). Bottleneck at Liège (Liège) and at junction E411.
• E34 Eindhoven – Antwerp.
• E40 Brussels – Ostend. Bottlenecks at Merelbeke, Drongen and Aalte.
• E313 Antwerp – Liège (Liège).
• E411 Brussels – Namur – Luxembourg. Bottleneck at Brussels.
  Ring roads of Brussels and Antwerp

Winter sports: when there is snow in the Ardennes, it is especially busy on the weekends on the A26 Liège – Bastogne – Arlon and the A27 Verviers – Malmédy – Sankt Vith. Popular ski areas are Spa – Franchorchamps and the area east of the line Eupen – Vielsalm.

Roads and routes

Alternative routes:

• For the E40: follow the orange / green diversion signs for a route via local roads or follow the A8 Brussels – Doornik (Tournai) – Kortrijk (Courtrai).
• For the R1 at Antwerp: follow the second ring road R2 (follow the signs ‘TOL’) and then via the E34 / N49 towards the coast.
• For the E411 / A4: from exit 18 (Asesse) on the N4 via Marche-en-Famenne and Bastogne (Bastogne) (speed limits apply here).
• To avoid Luxembourg: at Arlon (Arlon) take the N81 and take the N52 / A30 towards Thionville / Metz.

Road works

• E42: Liège – Namur, in both directions, 20 km northwest of Namur. Until July 2023.
• E314: Between Maasmechelen and the border. Until summer 2022. Near Leuven (Wilsele), in both directions and most nuisance July – September. Completion 2023.
• Brussels: Current information via Werkenaandering.be.
• Antwerp: Oosterweel connection, between Linkeroever and Zwijndrecht, with disruption on the E17 Ghent – Antwerp and Antwerp ring road. Completion 2030.

Driving ban trucks

There is no driving ban for trucks in Belgium on public holidays or weekends.

Trucks and cars with a trailer or caravan longer than 6 m are no longer allowed through the center of Liège. Only local traffic is allowed into the city. For the route south, follow the signs Luxembourg and E25. For the route to the north follow the signs ‘Maastricht’.

Road network Belgium

• The extensive road network in Belgium consists of modern motorways. The infrastructure is good, but the quality of the maintenance is less.
• Several secondary roads, especially in Wallonia, are sometimes poorly maintained. They connect all corners of the country with each other.

Breakdown assistance in Belgium

• Safety first
• Stop in a safe place – If possible, stop in the side of the road or on the emergency lane as far to the right as possible (make sure there is room to step out on the right). Turn your front wheels towards roadside or guardrail.
• Turn on your emergency lights – Let the emergency lights of your car flash to warn the other traffic (and also keep them on after you have placed a warning triangle). Make sure that the low beam also lights up in the dark.
• Put on a safety vest – As a driver, you are required to wear a safety vest if you walk alongside the road in the event of a breakdown or accident. Preferably put on a safety vest before you leave your vehicle and also let your passengers put on a safety vest. Motorbike drivers and their passengers are also advised to put on a safety vest in the event of a breakdown or accident.
• Get out of the car – Carefully get out, and let all passengers get out, on the side where there is no traffic and find a safe place behind the guard rail or on the roadside. Never cross a highway.
• Place a warning triangle if necessary – You are only required to use a warning triangle if you are outside the city area and have a breakdown or an accident in a place where traffic behind you cannot see your car in time or when visibility is poor due to weather conditions (even if you warning lights are on). Place the warning triangle on motorways at least 100 to 150 m behind your car and on other roads outside built-up areas 30 m behind your car. (Within city areas, that distance should be approximately 50 m.) Place the warning triangle no more than 1 m from the edge of the road.

Car repair

• It is not prohibited in Belgium to repair your vehicle along the road. However, for your own safety you are advised to call in the assistance of the roadside assistance.

Towing

• Note: Towing is prohibited on highways (or on the hard shoulder thereof). When your car can no longer leave a motorway under its own power, you must call in a recovery company to have your car towed away.
• Towing is allowed on other roads. The maximum speed in that case is 25 km / h.

Accident

• Call the emergency number 112 – This is mandatory in case of personal injury and advisable in case of significant damage.
  If only (limited) visual damage has occurred, it is sufficient to exchange your data with the other party. However, in case of doubt or disagreement between parties, you should always call the police on number 101.
  In the event of a one-sided collision (for example, if you collide with a bollard or a parked car) you are obliged to pass on your details to the other party and / or the police.
• Do not leave the scene of the accident – This is prohibited for anyone involved in an accident.
• You must first show your passport or identity card to the opposing party (if you are 15 years and older) and, if intervention by the police is necessary, wait for the police to take your statement.
• If the police cannot be reached within a reasonable time, you must report the accident to the nearest police station as soon as possible and if there are injuries within 24 hours.
• You may, however, temporarily leave the scene of the accident to help injured people or to call for help, provided you pass on your name and address to someone who remains on site.
• Provide First Aid – If you are involved in or witness an accident, you are required to provide assistance to persons who are injured as far as you are able and can do so without endangering yourself or others.
• Exchange data – All parties involved in an accident (aged 15 years and older) are obliged to show their passport or identity card to the counterparty and to exchange insurance data with the counterparty upon request.

Animals

• If you hit an animal or find a stray, dead or injured animal, you must call the police on emergency number 101 if there is a danger to the safety of road users. If there is no danger to the safety of the road users, you can call the local police.
• If you hit a wild animal or find an injured wild animal, you can contact a wildlife rescue center: vogelbescherming.be/wild-dier-nood/adreken-contactgegevens.

Traffic report Belgium

Traveling to Belgium and going on vacation by car (and caravan), is a great outlook. Being well prepared for a long journey through Europe is half the job. Below you will find information on the busy roads, border crossings, traffic calendars, alternative routes, peak days and hours, traffic information services, etc., in Belgium.

More information about Belgium.