Heavy traffic, persistent wet weather, numerous accidents, and construction disruptions on major roads led to record-breaking congestion on Flemish motorways in 2024, according to a report by the Flemish Traffic Centre on Monday.
60 days in 2024 saw traffic jams exceeding 200 kilometres on major Flemish routes. This figure has nearly tripled in two years.
In 2024, morning rush hour jams on Flemish motorways reached 159 kilometres, while evening peak saw 145 kilometres. By comparison, the previous year recorded 151 kilometres in the morning and 132 kilometres in the evening. November 2024 marked the most congested month on record.
Antwerp remains the region with the worst traffic jams. The situation worsened last year, with a 7% increase in morning congestion and a 13% increase in the evening compared to the previous year.
Motorists in Antwerp and Brussels lose at least one-fifth of their travel time to traffic jams, according to the report.
Early figures for 2025 show no signs of improvement. "We have never seen congestion numbers this high at the start of a new year," noted Peter Bruyninckx, spokesperson for the Flemish Traffic Centre.
