The Port of Antwerp is the second-largest port in Europe for the handling of containers and the number of containers is continuing to grow each year. To accommodate that growth until 2030, an additional handling capacity of 7.1 million TEUs is needed.
In order to achieve that, the Flemish Government decided on 15 July 2016 to start the complex project ‘Extra Container Capacity Antwerp’ (ECA complex project). That led to a study to identify the best alternative that provides a solution for the three objectives of the complex project:
- to create additional container handling capacity
- to develop additional industrial/logistics sites and
- to guarantee smooth access to container terminals and industrial/logistics sites by building a connection to the main network via rail, inland waterway and road.
On 17 May 2019, the Flemish Government adopted the preference decision concerning the design.
On 31 January 2020, the Flemish Government adopted the preference decision for the ECA complex project. You can find information about this complex project on the Flemish Government's project website.
- The preference decision can also be downloaded here.
- The Flemish Government's decision can be found here.
On 24 October 2025, the Flemish Government adopted the project decision on the Western Access to the Waaslandhaven (WOW) project. You can find it here.
