Low Emission Zones
There are low-emission zones in Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent. You need to check in advance if your car can enter these cities. If not, you need to buy a permit. You need a separate one for each town. The rules for Brussels are different from those of Antwerp and Ghent.
Heavy traffic zones
Belgium is densely populated, and there is always a lot of traffic. In most countries, the roads are busy once you approach the city, but in between cities, they are much calmer.
In Belgium, the suburbs of one city are next to the suburbs of the next city, and there is no calmer part in between. It’s best to avoid the area between Ghent, Antwerp, Louvain, and Brussels. Mechelen (Malines) is in the center of this area. Other places of interest are more accessible by car.
During peak hours there are often massive traffic jams in this area. It’s best to avoid Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 am to 9 am and 5 pm to 7 pm. When you plan your route in Google Maps (or another route planner), make sure that you also put in the date and time of when you plan to travel.
For a city trip, it often is easier to take the train. It doesn’t take longer than driving there. With the train, you don’t waste time trying to park your car. Taking the train also can be cheaper. In most cities, the train station is right next to the city center.
Parking your car
In most Belgian cities, there are not enough parking spaces. When there are events, it can be challenging to find a parking spot. When you visit Belgium by car, it’s best to choose a hotel that has parking spaces.
The prices you pay for parking your car in a public garage can be very high.