Belgium's 2027 digital road vignette sparks Dutch border concerns

From 1 May 2027 Belgium will roll out a digital road vignette that obliges foreign drivers to pay for using the national highway network. Belgian ministers Ben Weyts and Annick De Ridder dismissed a request from the Belgisch‑Nederlands GrensOverleg (BENEGO) for an exemption for the Dutch border region.

Local officials in the border area warn that the vignette could divert traffic onto narrow secondary roads, creating safety risks for cyclists and increasing "sluipverkeer" (detour traffic). Mayor Philip Loots of Baarle‑Hertog and mayor Marino Keulen of Lanaken highlighted the intertwined daily life of Flemish and Dutch residents, noting that many Dutch commuters, shoppers and patients cross the border daily. The Flemish Cycling Federation warned that higher traffic on roads without dedicated bike lanes could endanger cyclists. The measure applies to all regional and national highways and is expected to affect cross‑border commuting patterns between Belgium and the Netherlands.