Southern Dutch tollroad now free for most drivers eight years earlier than planned
The Westerscheldetunnel between Zuid-Beveland and Zeeuws-Vlaanderen is now toll-free for cars and motorcycles as of 3:00 p.m. Monday, marking the culmination of years of efforts to remove the toll. This change comes eight years earlier than originally planned for 2033. However, freight traffic must continue to pay the toll, frustrating the local business community.
The toll’s removal follows a significant political push, with Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Barry Madlener and Zeeland's deputy Harry van der Maas performing the official opening ceremony at 2:45 p.m. on Monday. At 3:00 p.m., the first car or motorcycle was allowed to pass through the tunnel without charge.
The transition to toll-free for passenger vehicles is not without its safety precautions. Special lanes have been designated for cars and motorcycles, though vehicles still pass through gates where barriers are raised, ensuring a safe and controlled flow of traffic. This measure is intended to prevent vehicles from speeding over the toll plaza.
Madlener, who has been an advocate for the toll’s removal since 2016, reflected on the significance of this change in his political career. As a member of the Party for Freedom (PVV), he was one of the first to submit a motion calling for a toll-free Westerscheldetunnel. In 2016, the motion received overwhelming support in the Tweede Kamer, and the government was directed to assess the feasibility of removing the toll. Now as Minister of Infrastructure, Madlener marked Monday's event as one of the highlights of his work, saying that "this circle is now complete" for him.
While Madlener was not the first to call for the removal of the toll, the debate over the Westerscheldetunnel’s tolls began immediately after the tunnel’s opening. Early on, residents recognized the tunnel as an important new transportation link between Zeeland and the rest of the Netherlands, eliminating reliance on ferries, which were often unavailable due to weather conditions or closed at night. However, concerns grew over the financial burden placed on local residents who had to pay the toll to travel between Zeeland and the rest of the country. These frustrations increased over time, especially as people realized they were paying considerable amounts for regular use of the tunnel.
The push for a toll-free tunnel gained momentum through organizations like Zeeland Tolvrij, initially founded as the Stichting Tunnel Tolvrij. Marc Perquin, one of the early advocates, praised the accelerated removal of the toll, saying, "We have achieved our goal by having the toll removed for cars and motorcycles eight years earlier than expected. We have reached our objective."
Despite the victory for passenger vehicles, the toll remains for trucks, which continues to draw ire from local business leaders. Eric de Ruijsscher, president of VNO-NCW Zeeland, expressed his dissatisfaction, saying, "It is and remains unfair." He cited concerns that the continued toll for trucks creates an uneven competitive landscape for businesses in the region. De Ruijsscher hopes that lobbying efforts will eventually lead to the removal of the toll for freight traffic as well.
The government’s stance on freight traffic stems from concerns over the potential impact on regional roads. Former Minister of Infrastructure Mark Harbers explained that before considering a toll-free tunnel for freight vehicles, a large-scale traffic study must be conducted. There are fears that a toll-free passage could lead to increased freight traffic between Rotterdam and Gent, potentially creating congestion and unsafe routes through Zeeland’s provincial roads.
"Will there be more truck traffic? Will there be new bypasses?" Harbers asked. "The freight traffic cannot be included right away, but we are continuing to work towards finding a solution." For now, truckers will continue to pay 25 euros per passage through the Westerscheldetunnel.
