Connecting in location

60%

of European purchasing
power in a 500km range

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2nd largest

port of Europe
(and n°1 for conventional cargo)

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Almost all

of the European production
centres lie closest to Antwerp

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4

European capitals
within a one hour flight

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Europe’s best connected city

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is the second largest container terminal in the world. It welcomes the largest vessels eighty kilometers inland – bringing products as close as possible to their final destination. Where ships are offloaded, a modern network of railroads, roads, pipelines and waterways carries goods to the heart of Europe in no time.

Antwerp also boasts a top spot in digital connectivity. We’ve claimed a spot in the top ten of area’s with the best broadband access for several years now. Mobile coverage is equally as reliable. Combined with a wide range of modern communication and tracking tools, this means you are always as close as possible to your goods – even if they are literally thousands of kilometers away. 

Ready to start exploring?
 

Accessibility and mobility of goods

The port of Antwerp-Bruges is a world port. It is the 13th largest port in the world, the 2nd largest port in Europe and the largest European port for conventional cargo. This makes it a major gateway to Europe.

The Antwerp port has an excellent infrastructure for receiving all types of transports and goods. Moreover, absolutely no other port is so centrally located in Europe as Antwerp, which makes transport to the consumers easier, more sustainable, more efficient and consequently less expensive.

Map: Direct connections with 1300 ports worldwide
Map: Direct connections with 1300 ports worldwide

By sea

Maritime transport is the basis of the port of Antwerp´s success story. Via the Scheldt river, seas and oceans, sea-going ships can find their way between Antwerp and the farthest corners of the world. The ever-larger sea-going ships not only bring goods to Antwerp, they also take products on board before departing for their next distant destination. Because absolutely no port is more centrally located in Europe than Antwerp, ships can already bring their goods very close to customers.

Map: Connections via European waterways
Map: Connections via European waterways

Via inland shipping

The port of Antwerp-Bruges is not only linked to the Scheldt, but can also transport goods over water via e.g. the Albert Canal, the Scheldt-Rhine Connection and the Scheldt-Seine Connection. Over these rivers and canals, inland navigation vessels can transport large quantities of goods at the same time. For example, all of the products that you find in Colruyt stores travel via inland navigation vessels to a central warehouse in Brussels. Goods can also be transported to terminals further inland in order to be handled there, such as in Liège or Grobbendonk. Via a large network of rivers and canals, the inland shipping can also reach destinations outside of Belgium, such as in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France.
 

Map: International rail connections
Map: International rail connections

By rail

The Antwerp port area lies right in the middle of a large rail network that runs throughout Europe. This rail network has destinations that range from Spain to Norway and from Greece to Poland. Each week 70 destinations are served in 19 countries! In order to also use this transport method as effectively as possible, all terminals in the port of Antwerp are linked to the rail network. Freight trains transport not only containers, but also bulk goods such as coal, sand and chemicals.
 

Map: The European pipeline network
Map: The European pipeline network

By pipeline

Without you even seeing it, each year many millions of tonnes are transported to and from Antwerp. Just think of petroleum, fuel oil, petrol and natural gas. The best-known pipeline to the Antwerp port area is the Rotterdam Antwerp Pipeline. Each year, 30 million tonnes of petroleum flows from Rotterdam to Antwerp through this 102 kilometre-long pipe. If this pipeline wasn´t there, then 1100 big tank trucks would have to drive back and forth, day and night, between the two cities in order to transport the same oil. Kerosene - fuel for airplanes - is also transported from Antwerp to Zaventem in this way.
 

 

Table: Distance in kilometres from Antwerp, Hamburg, Le Havre and Rotterdam to various production centres
  Antwerp Hamburg Le Havre Rotterdam
Duisburg 179 378 615 223
Cologne 222 413 576 282
Ludwigshafen 424 570 729 502
Frankfurt 413 489 771 475
Munich 780 769 1 008 842
Valenciennes 168 687 297 274
Lille 132 670 286 248
Paris 362 902 196 455
Strasbourg 491 701 683 593
Venlo 151 409 544 191
Geleen 128 468 501 212
Amsterdam 160 468 604 77
Basel 623 811 693 725

Source: Port of Antwerp 

By road

Loads that fit in a single container or truck can be brought very quickly by road to their next destination. Moreover, such road transport is necessary whenever a destination cannot be reached with an inland navigation vessel or freight train. The port of Antwerp is literally surrounded by motorways and is therefore easily accessible. The motorways lead directly to our neighbouring countries and possible further destinations. Because Antwerp lies 80 kilometres inland, the distances for the road transport are a good deal shorter, less environmental pollution is generated and there is a smaller chance of getting caught in traffic jams.
 
The following table shows the distance in kilometres from Antwerp, Hamburg, Le Havre and Rotterdam to the various production centres. The shortest distance in each case is highlighted. Most of the production centres lie closest to Antwerp.

By air

The top 10 largest airports in the area of goods/letters in Europe are all easily accessible from Antwerp. Two Belgian airports, Liège and Brussels, are amongst the top 10. Brussels Airport, Belgium’s largest international airport, is less than 35 minutes away. Travel time to London, Paris, Frankfurt and Hamburg is just one hour. Antwerp has its own flexible airport close to the city centre with its short check-in times and excellent location.

 

 

Table (next): Top 10 largest airports in the area of goods/letters in Europe (in tonnes)
 
Airport Tonnes in 2014
Frankfurt Main airport 2 196 315
Paris Charles De Gaulle 2 067 203
Amsterdam Schiphol 1 670 671
London Heathrow 1 582 944
Leipzig Halle 912 680
Cologne Bonn 766 129
Luxembourg airport 709 109
Liege airport 590 659
Milan Malpensa 456 546
Brussels National airport 420 164

(source: Eurostat)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accessibility and mobility of passengers

Antwerp is strongly tied to the surrounding business centres, such as London and Paris, via motorway, high-speed train and airplane. Moreover, several mobility projects ensure a smooth traffic flow in and around the city.

Master Plan 2020

The Master Plan 2020 includes several mobility projects that ensure smooth traffic flows in and around the city:

  • New tram connections are being created, both within the city and to a number of other municipalities (Zwijndrecht (already created), Wijnegem (already created), Beveren, Wilrijk, Kontich). One of the major projects within this framework was Noorderlijn/Brabo 2. The construction has been made of a new tram line which connects the north of Antwerp (Eilandje district) with the centre. 
  • The Operaplein and the Franklin Rooseveltplaats are becoming an important multimodal node. Cars drive underground there, and there is also an underground car park. In addition, there are important connections by tram, premetro and bus.  
  • The Antwerp Ring is relieved by the Oosterweel connection. This closes the Ring so that not all traffic has to go through the Kennedy Tunnel. Moreover, a better connection is coming between the E313/E34 from Hasselt and Eindhoven with the E19. The A102 is becoming a tunnel in the direction of Breda and the R11bis is becoming a tunnel in the direction of Brussels.
  • New cycle paths are being created, including along the Singel, through the port and through the districts.

Road connectivity

Antwerp is well connected with a close-knit road network. Several regional motorways provide good circulation while the city also lies at the crossroads of five major international motorways. Road traffic in Antwerp will flow even smoother in the future with the construction of the Oosterweel link. The Flemish Region will invest more than 3 billion euro in this major project. An improved link will also be constructed between the E313/E34 from Hasselt and Eindhoven with the E19. The A102 is to become a tunnel in the direction of Breda.
 

Air connectivity

Brussels Airport, Belgium’s large international airport is less than 30 minutes away. In addition, Antwerp also has its own small but flexible airport close to the city centre. With its short check-in times and excellent location, Antwerp Airport plays an important role in meeting the needs of international business travellers. Travel time to the main destination, London City, is just 1 hour. Information about air connections from Antwerp Airport to other interesting business destinations in Europe Home - All information about Antwerp International Airport (antwerp-airport.com)

High-speed train connectivity

Thanks to Antwerp’s high-speed train station, major cities in France, the Netherlands, Germany and England are within easy reach from the city centre within minimal travel times. Paris is only two hours away. Moreover, the HST trains also offer fast connections to Europe’s major international airports.

HST connections from Antwerp Central station
Destination Travel time
Brussels North 00:32
Airport: Brussels National Airport 00:34
Amsterdam 01:11
Airport: Schiphol 00:54
Paris North 02:02
Airport: Charles De Gaulle 02:15
London Saint-Pancras 03:09
Frankfurt (Main) HBF 03:44
Airport: Frankfurt Flughaven Fernbahnhof 03:30

(Source: NMBS)

Antwerp Central Business District

The Antwerp Central Business District is located nearby the majestic Central Station - or ‘Railroad Cathedral’ as locals proudly call it.

In this district you’ll find offices in majestic townhouses, beautiful art deco buildings and new, state-of-the-art office towers. An offer of smaller offices is found in the secured diamond district. Serviced offices are available for companies that are looking for flexibility.

Rental prices in the Antwerp Central Business District are significantly lower, compared to other cities in Europe: 120 eur/m². Antwerp is a highly affordable market for offices. Would you like to know more?