Several columns of tractors are on their way to the capital as part of the demonstration by Flemish farmers organized on Friday. The motorways are spared but traffic jams are to be deplored on the roads allowing to reach Brussels from Flanders, according to the Vlaams Verkeerscentrum (Flemish center for road traffic). Farmers castigate the “nitrogen plane” of the Flemish government to reduce emissions from the agricultural sector.
With the exception of a traffic jam at the exit of the E403 near Rumbeke-Roeselare (West Flanders), as a convoy of tractors approached, calm reigned on the Flemish highways on Friday.
“Friday morning rush hour is the quietest of the week and this morning was no exception“, specified Peter Bruyninckx of the Vlaams Verkeerscentrum. A little before 09:00, a column of tractors coming from Eeklo (East Flanders) entered Ghent, and hundreds of tractors entered the small ring road (R40) at the height of the Porte de Bruges and then continued on their way to Brussels without stopping.
According to Boerenbond, the Flemish agricultural union, Friday’s action has 2,850 registered members, but there might still be more. The agricultural machinery is expected at noon at the avenue du Port, north of the Brussels city center before launching, under police supervision, on the small belt.
From 10 a.m. and throughout the day, the Reyers tunnel towards the center will be closed, as well as the Cinquantenaire tunnel towards Arts-Loi, the Annie Cordy tunnel coming from Koekelberg towards Midi, the avenue du Port and the Brussels inner ring. surface. The police advise once morest traveling to the capital by car and recommend using public transport, favoring the metro and the train. Farmers are expected to leave the capital between 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.