Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
The border between Leende, the Netherlands and Hamont-Achel, Belgium. Undated
The border between Leende, the Netherlands and Hamont-Achel, Belgium. Undated - Credit: Wirestock / DepositPhotos - License: DepositPhotos
Health
Politics
Antwerp
Belgium
Germany
Gorinchem
Breda
Noord-Brabant
Limburg
Zuiderburen
Leeuwarden
The Hague
Cathy Berx
public transportation
ANWB
Monday, 27 December 2021 - 15:21
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Dutch day trippers flock to Antwerp despite Covid concerns

The roads from the Netherlands to Belgium were remarkably busy throughout Monday, especially towards Antwerp. Many people are likely taking advantage of the shops and cafes which were allowed to remain open in Belgium, while the Netherlands is subject to a stricter lockdown due to the high level of coronavirus infections there. For over a week, only essential shops such as supermarkets, drugstores and pharmacies have been allowed to keep their doors open on the Dutch side of the border.

The police in Antwerp reported that it is "pleasantly busy" in the city. The police advised visitors to travel by public transport, by bicycle or on foot. Motorists are advised to use the various park-and-ride lots on the outskirts of the city. From there, vehicle occupants can transfer to public transport.

According to the ANWB, the traffic on the roads was concentrated on the A27, from Gorkum towards Breda, the A58 at the Galder junction, and on the E19 from Breda towards Antwerp. Around six kilometers of traffic jams were reported around noon, and the delay was just under half an hour. Most traffic jams towards the south were resolved by 2:30 p.m.

"It was remarkably busy this morning, especially on the roads to Antwerp," said an ANWB spokesperson. "Especially people from Brabant are coming to Antwerp en masse. As an organization, the ANWB is not advising against it. People have personal responsibility, but they have to ask themselves whether it is sensible." In recent days, the organization already noticed an uptick in traffic towards Antwerp.

A week ago, Prime Minister Mark Rutte asked the Dutch people not to travel across the southern border, or to Germany, unless it was absolutely necessary. He emphasized that the advice from the Cabinet and the Outbreak Management Team is to have as little contact with others as possible. Governor Cathy Berx of Antwerp and German mayors of border municipalities also asked that tourists from the Netherlands stay away. They are afraid that Dutch people infected with the contagious Omicron variant will bring the coronavirus variant across the border.

Reporting by ANP

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Police missed many signals in run-up to attorney, crime journalist's murders: report
  • ING online banking disruption resolved after over 12 hours of downtime
  • Public transport strike: No trains running in Friesland, part of Groningen
  • Belgian men arrested for fatal shooting of German man in the Netherlands
  • Netherlands pledges to compensate healthcare workers suffering from Long Covid
  • Second body found in rubble of Arnhem apartment complex fire

Top stories

  • Police missed many signals in run-up to attorney, crime journalist's murders: report
  • Public transport strike: No trains running in Friesland, part of Groningen
  • Dutch mad cow disease case concerns variant that is less dangerous for humans
  • Catering sector to blacklist people who misbehave in clubs, bars
  • Education Min. adjusting rules to limit influx of international students
  • Inflation dropped to 7.6 percent in January

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content