Political support for acceleration
In early February, the Dutch House of Representatives once again emphasized the urgency of the Rail Ghent Terneuzen project. A motion was unanimously adopted, calling on the cabinet to make a start decision as quickly as possible in close cooperation with the Flemish government. All 150 Members of Parliament present supported the proposal, submitted by Chris Stoffer (SGP), Habtamu de Hoop (GroenLinks-PvdA), Maarten Goudzwaard (JA21), and Pieter Grinwis (ChristenUnie).
During the debate on the Multi-Year Programme for Infrastructure, Space and Transport (MIRT), State Secretary Thierry Aartsen (Infrastructure and Water Management) confirmed that he fully recognizes the urgency of Rail Ghent Terneuzen. According to the State Secretary, there is intensive contact with Belgian colleagues, and the project will be discussed shortly in a joint meeting. The goal is clear: the start decision must be finalized this year.
Funding secured
A key reason for this political urgency is that funding is already fully available on both sides of the border. Both the Netherlands and Belgium have each allocated €100 million—totaling €200 million—to realize Rail Ghent Terneuzen. What's still missing is the formal decision to actually get started.
Regional importance
For years, governments, infrastructure managers and North Sea Port have been working together on plans for a stronger, more sustainable connection between Ghent and Terneuzen. Modernizing this cross-border rail link will enable more freight to be transported by rail, resulting in fewer trucks on the road, improved quality of life, and a stronger competitive position for businesses in the region.
The project is not just an investment in infrastructure, but also in the future of logistics, sustainability, and cooperation between Flanders and the Netherlands.
