On 18 July 2025, the Flemish Government adopted the project decision for the Western Access to the Waaslandhaven (WOW), which forms part of the complex project ‘Extra Container Handling Capacity Antwerp’, or ECA for short. That decision is an important milestone on the route leading up to the implementation of the project.
“In 2024, the public inquiry into the draft project decision for the Western Access to the Waaslandhaven took place. All responses and comments have since been incorporated. Now, the Flemish Government has made the decision in principle to finally adopt the project decision. In everyday language, this means the plans are now close to approval. First of all, we still need to seek advice from the Council of State and after that, we can finally adopt the project decision.”
Annick De Ridder, Flemish Minister of Mobility, Public Works, Ports and Sport
The next step is the implementation phase
Now that the decision to finally adopt has been taken in principle by the Flemish Government, a 30-day round of consultations with the Council of State will follow. After that, in the autumn, the Flemish Government can finally adopt the WOW Project Decision. Once that is done, the next phase of the project will begin: the implementation phase. In that phase, a call for tenders will be used to find a contractor who will then carry out the works.
Smooth sailing to and from the port
A whopping 90% of world trade takes place by sea, and much of what we use every day comes in via the Port of Antwerp. But world trade is growing and is projected to continue doing so. However, the limits of the port's container terminals have been reached. Some of the container traffic is therefore in danger of moving to other countries, and once that happens, containers will be transported to Flanders in a less sustainable way.
ECA aims to expand the port's container handling capacity and make smarter use of existing space at the port, so that large companies and important sectors can remain in Flanders. ECA will therefore not only provide more container handling capacity, but will strengthen the port and the economic position of Flanders itself.
The Western Access to the Waaslandhaven (WOW) subproject aims to ensure that the port is easily accessible by road, rail and bicycle. In specific terms, it involves constructing the new road to the west of the port on the left bank of the Scheldt. Improved rail connections will also be provided in order to transport containers and goods to and from the port on the left bank of the Scheldt more rapidly and more efficiently. Better and faster bicycle connections are also being built, both for commuters and recreational cyclists. And last but not least, there will also be a lot of additional greenery. Along the new access road, there will be a vast green buffer landscape more than 5 kilometres long. In the future, that landscape will extend for a distance of 11 kilometres and will include the construction of a dike along the Second Tidal Dock (Tweede Getijdendok) for the Container Cluster Left Bank (CCL) subproject. This will reduce noise and light pollution, while also providing a great many opportunities for cyclists and hikers. In summary, WOW (Western Access to the Waaslandhaven) will not only provide a more easily accessible port, but also a more even balance between economy, nature and the living environment.
A whopping 90% of world trade takes place by sea, and much of what we use every day comes in via the Port of Antwerp. But world trade is growing and is projected to continue doing so. However, the limits of the port's container terminals have been reached. Some of the container traffic is therefore in danger of moving to other countries, and once that happens, containers will be transported to Flanders in a less sustainable way.
ECA aims to expand the port's container handling capacity and make smarter use of existing space at the port, so that large companies and important sectors can remain in Flanders. ECA will therefore not only provide more container handling capacity, but will strengthen the port and the economic position of Flanders itself.
The Western Access to the Waaslandhaven (WOW) subproject aims to ensure that the port is easily accessible by road, rail and bicycle. In specific terms, it involves constructing the new road to the west of the port on the left bank of the Scheldt. Improved rail connections will also be provided in order to transport containers and goods to and from the port on the left bank of the Scheldt more rapidly and more efficiently. Better and faster bicycle connections are also being built, both for commuters and recreational cyclists. And last but not least, there will also be a lot of additional greenery. Along the new access road, there will be a vast green buffer landscape more than 5 kilometres long. In the future, that landscape will extend for a distance of 11 kilometres and will include the construction of a dike along the Second Tidal Dock (Tweede Getijdendok) for the Container Cluster Left Bank (CCL) subproject. This will reduce noise and light pollution, while also providing a great many opportunities for cyclists and hikers. In summary, WOW (Western Access to the Waaslandhaven) will not only provide a more easily accessible port, but also a more even balance between economy, nature and the living environment.
What is a project decision?
The project decision contains all the necessary permits, authorisations, changes to land use and a list of measures to mitigate environmental and other impacts. In other words, all of the documents that will be needed to make the project feasible.
More information
Western Access to the Waaslandhaven (WOW) is one of the three subprojects of the complex project ‘Extra Container Handling Capacity Antwerp’ (ECA). WOW is closely linked to the subproject Container Cluster Linkerscheldeoever (CCL): WOW will ensure that all containers are transported smoothly and sustainably.
With the project ‘Haventracé, cluster E34-West’, the Flemish government is working to provide an improved connection from the R2 and the Waaslandhaven to the E34. This will optimise mobility around the port on the left bank of the Scheldt. This project is not part of ECA.
ECA is being developed in accordance with the 'complex projects' procedure. Through focused consultation with all stakeholders, the goal is to arrive at the best combination of the various objectives within an acceptable time frame. The Flemish Government, Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Maatschappij Linkerscheldeoever are working together to make that happen.
Full information about ECA can be found on the website www.cpeca.be