Belgian highways face massive holiday traffic jams

Mobility organisations and the Flemish Traffic Centre warn of extreme congestion on Belgium's highways this weekend as the first official “Black Saturday” of the summer season triggers a surge of holiday traffic. Warm weather, the start of vacation travel and extensive roadworks combine to create “the perfect storm” on major routes such as the E19, Antwerp Ring (R1) and the E40/E34 corridors toward the coast and southern destinations.

The traffic is expected to peak on Friday afternoon, Saturday morning and Sunday evening, with long queues especially on the E19 between Mechelen and Rumst, the Antwerp Ring near the Oosterweel works, and the E40 towards the North Sea. Drivers are advised to travel at atypical times, use traffic‑monitoring apps, consider train travel, and keep water and cooling supplies in their cars.

The congestion also involves thousands of Dutch and German tourists passing through Belgium on their way to France or Spain, adding to the pressure on the network.