🇧🇪 Same-country drive · Belgium
Driving from Brussels to Antwerpen
Essential tips for the short 45km drive from Brussels to Antwerp via the A12, covering traffic expectations and road conditions.
- Drive time
- 44m
- Distance
- 45 km
- Same day?
- Yes, half day
- under 4 h
- Fuel cost
- ≈ €6
- petrol · diesel ≈ €6
- Tolls
- Toll-free
- no charges en route
- EV charging
- Plenty fast
- 11 of 113 ≥50 kW
On this page
Route map
Route options
Other paths OSRM found between the two cities — handy when traffic, tolls, or scenery matter more than raw speed.
Alternative
+6m- Distance:
- 57 km (+12 km)
- Duration:
- 50m
Via: E19
How else can you make this trip?
Driving is the focus of this guide; here's how cycling, coach, and (soon) train and plane stack up for the same pair.
What the drive is like
Drafted from the route's computed data on May 1, 2026 and reviewed against the route summary card. Read our methodology.
You leave the Brussels orbital via the A12, which serves as the primary artery connecting the capital to the port city. Unlike the frequently congested R0 ring road, the A12 provides a more direct, albeit intense, trajectory north through the Flemish flatlands. Expect heavy volume as you exit the city limits, and remain alert for the abrupt changes in speed limits that often accompany construction zones on this stretch. Lane discipline is vital here, as local drivers moving between the industrial zones are decisive and often impatient.
Crossing into the Antwerp region, the road surface changes significantly as the route integrates into the city's complex network of tunnels and flyovers. You are legally restricted to 120 km/h on Belgian motorways, but speed cameras are omnipresent and highly accurate, so avoid the temptation to match the pace of the faster local traffic. There are no tolls or vignettes to navigate on this route, making the administrative side of the journey straightforward.
Keep in mind that Antwerp is a strictly regulated low-emission zone. Before entering the city center, ensure your vehicle is registered to avoid potential fines, even if you are only passing through. If you are arriving during morning or afternoon commute windows, factor in significant delays around the Scheldt tunnel crossings, which frequently act as a bottleneck for the entire region. Always check the local traffic reports before you leave the Brussels perimeter, as this short distance can easily double in duration during peak periods.
Route highlights
- The direct A12 corridor between major Flemish hubs
- The complex network of tunnels approaching Antwerp
- Navigating the strict Antwerp low-emission zone
Trip plan
How to think about the drive: one day, split, or overnight.
Short hop
Under two hours behind the wheel. Grab a coffee, set the playlist, done before lunch.
- Distance:
- 45 km
- Duration:
- 44m (free-flow, no traffic)
Must-know before you go
The things a driver from another country wouldn't think to ask about — fines, stickers, payment cards, opening hours.
City access & emission zones
Brussels Low Emission Zone covers all 19 communes
Must knowBrussels LEZ runs 24/7 across the entire city; foreign plates must register online before arrival. Diesel pre-Euro 4 and petrol pre-Euro 1 are banned outright. The fine for unregistered entry is €350. Antwerp and Ghent have their own LEZs with different sticker requirements.
Driving rules & habits
Town names switch language across the border
TipBelgium signs towns in the local language: Mons becomes Bergen in Flanders, Liège becomes Luik, Brussels becomes Bruxelles/Brussel. SatNav usually handles both, but printed maps and exit signs can throw you. If you're looking for "Mons" on a Flemish-side motorway, you'll see "Bergen" on the gantry.
Fuel stations
Contactless cards work at virtually every motorway pump
TipMajor brand stations (Shell, Total, BP, Repsol, Cepsa, OMV, Eni, Esso) take Visa and Mastercard contactless without an issue. American Express and Diners are spotty south of the Alps. A €100 pre-authorisation hold is normal — it releases within 5 days. Carry €50 cash for the rare independent station.
Money & connectivity
EU roaming covers calls, texts and data at no extra cost
TipYour home EU SIM works at home rates across every EU member, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The "fair use" cap on data only applies if you're abroad more than four months. For a 2-week road trip, just use your phone normally — but switch off "data roaming" if you're leaving the EU into UK / CH for any segment.
Emergency & breakdown
112 works everywhere in the EU and continental neighbours
TipSingle number for police, ambulance, fire — works from any phone, any network, any country. On motorways, the orange SOS pillars every 2km connect direct to the regional traffic control centre and pinpoint your location. Use them over your phone if you can — it speeds the response.
Rules, fees, and thresholds change. Always verify against the official source the day before you drive — this page is a checklist, not a legal reference.
Main roads
The highways this route spends the most kilometres on.
-
A12 Autostrade32 km
-
A112 —3 km
Route character
How much of the drive is motorway vs. secondary vs. rural.
Motorway drive — fast, predictable, uneventful.
- Motorway
- 77%
- Secondary
- 9%
- Other / rural
- 14%
Drive difficulty
At-a-glance feel: how demanding is this drive for one driver?
Overall
Easy
Straightforward drive. One driver, one day, little to worry about beyond fuel and a toilet stop.
- No major complicating factors — motorway-heavy, single country, comfortable length.
Elevation profile
Highs, lows, and the total climb / descent along the route.
- Lowest point
- 0 m
- Highest point
- 62 m
- Total ascent
- ↑ 95 m
- Total descent
- ↓ 113 m
Fuel & tolls
Rough cost expectation for a typical EU passenger car. Treat as an estimate — pump prices change weekly.
Petrol (RON 95)
≈ €6
3.4 L × €1.87 / L · 7.5 L/100 km
Diesel
≈ €6
2.7 L × €2.11 / L · 6 L/100 km
Electric (DC fast)
≈ €6
8 kWh × €0.77 / kWh · 17.5 kWh/100 km
Public DC fast charging — slower AC charging at home or hotels typically costs about half.
Prices last refreshed 2026-05-04.
Fuel and EV charging along the route
Stations within a few kilometres of the road, sampled at evenly-spaced waypoints.
EV charging
11 at 50 kW or above (fast / ultra-fast).
Fastest first
- IONITY Living Tomorrow Brussels — Vilvoorde 350 kW
- Tesla Supercharger Brussels 250 kW
- Tesla Aartselaar Supercharger — Aartselaar 120 kW
- Edegem Supercharger — Edegem 120 kW
- Delaunoystraat 72 kW
- Total Pacheco — Brussel 50 kW
- Rue Claessens - Claessensstraat — Ville de Bruxelles - Stad Brussel 50 kW
- Total Port de Bruxelles — Brussel 50 kW
- Lidl Meise — Meise 50 kW
- Nissan Beerens — Aartselaar 50 kW
- Total Bonaparte — Antwerpen 50 kW
- Mercure Antwerp City South — Antwerp 45 kW
Weather by month
Average daytime high / overnight low and typical monthly rainfall, over the past five years.
🇧🇪 Brussels
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6°
1°
|
9°
3°
|
12°
4°
|
15°
6°
|
19°
10°
|
23°
13°
|
23°
15°
|
23°
15°
|
21°
13°
|
16°
10°
|
10°
6°
|
8°
4°
|
| 97mm | 55mm | 78mm | 65mm | 73mm | 61mm | 95mm | 47mm | 75mm | 94mm | 85mm | 61mm |
hot mild cold
🇧🇪 Antwerpen
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6°
2°
|
9°
3°
|
12°
5°
|
15°
7°
|
19°
10°
|
23°
14°
|
23°
15°
|
23°
15°
|
21°
13°
|
16°
10°
|
10°
6°
|
8°
4°
|
| 101mm | 60mm | 78mm | 69mm | 94mm | 61mm | 94mm | 60mm | 73mm | 101mm | 91mm | 64mm |
hot mild cold
Next 5 days at Antwerpen
Live forecast — refreshes every few hours.
-
Tue 12
🌧️
10° / 9°
1.7mm
-
Wed 13
🌧️
12° / 7°
54.5mm
-
Thu 14
🌧️
12° / 6°
12.9mm
-
Fri 15
🌧️
11° / 5°
5.8mm
-
Sat 16
⛅
11° / 7°
0.8mm
Forecast: MET Norway
Directions
Turn-by-turn summary of the main manoeuvres, generated by OSRM.
Show all 9 manoeuvres
- Rue Melsens - Melsensstraat 0.1 km
- (R20)
- — 0.2 km
- (A12) 11 km
- Autostrade (A12) 5 km
- Koningin Astridlaan (A12) 16 km
- (A112) 3 km
- —
- Braderijstraat
Cycling from Brussels to Antwerpen
Touring-pace bicycle route generated by BRouter, with elevation gain and matched against the EuroVelo cycle network.
- Distance
- 47 km
- vs 45 km driving
- Riding time
- 2h 12m
- Touring pace; experienced riders cut this 20–30%.
- Total climb
- ↑ 30 m
Routed on the BRouter trekking profile — balanced for paved leisure tourers; gravel and fast-bike profiles produce different lines.
On the EuroVelo network
Sections of this route follow signed EuroVelo cycle routes — well-maintained, signposted, and bike-friendly:
- EV5 Via Romea (Francigena) · 1 km
Total: 1,0 km on EuroVelo (2% of the route).
Show route on map
By coach from Brussels to Antwerpen
Indicative duration of the fastest direct long-distance coach found in the FlixBus and BlaBlaCar Bus EU schedules.
- Travel time
- 35m
- Direct
- Operator
- FlixBus-eu
- Departures / day
- ~4
- Approximate based on the published schedule.
Show coach corridor on map
Schedules sourced from the FlixBus and BlaBlaCar Bus GTFS feeds via transport.data.gouv.fr. Times are indicative; verify on the operator's site before booking.
Booking link coming soon.
Frequently asked
Are there any tolls on the road between Brussels and Antwerp?
No, the A12 motorway is toll-free, and Belgium does not require a vignette for passenger vehicles.
What is the speed limit on this route?
The maximum speed limit on Belgian motorways is 120 km/h, though you should strictly observe posted reductions near urban areas and construction sites.
Do I need to register my car for Antwerp?
Yes, Antwerp operates a mandatory low-emission zone. You must register your vehicle online before entering the city to confirm it meets current environmental standards.
How this page is built
Compiled by COD Solutions Oy from open European data — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for the route geometry, BRouter for the bicycle route, EuroVelo GPX (ODbL) by the European Cyclists' Federation for the cycle-network overlay, Open-Meteo for monthly climate normals, OpenTopoData SRTM 30m for elevation, Open Charge Map for EV charging stations, and Google Gemini drafts the narrative and FAQ from the computed route data. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.