Antwerp has already made millions from the Flemish low-emission zone and the ticket factory in Ghent is now also running at full speed. For the well-informed tourist, a weekend trip to Ghent can still end up with an expensive fine that falls on the doormat afterwards.
Ghent continues to struggle with the automated approach to the introduction of the low-emission zone. Antwerp In 2017, it was the first Belgian city to introduce an environmental zone and in 2020, registration is fully automatic. In the medieval city of Ghent, the motorist must do everything in advance via a application form on a website. And be careful, because registering is no guarantee of success.
registration system Ghent not automatic
Last Friday, the website was down, making it impossible to register a foreign license plate. What do you do when you want to leave by car to your booked hotel room in the heart of the city? With your complaints about it register here If you have a registration number, please call the city of Ghent to inquire about the consequences of not being able to register.
“Our colleagues on the low-emission zone team are probably having lunch at the moment. I also see that the website is off the air and registration is not possible. Perhaps you can try again later to register. ”Said a friendly operator of the city of Ghent.
The decision on your application is only final after you have received an explicit confirmation, only it is not stated how long this confirmation will take. If you enter the Ghent low-emission zone before receiving the permit, this is done at your own risk. If it turns out afterwards that your application does not meet all the conditions and is therefore rejected, you may be fined.
What lessons can Belgian cities draw from the Dutch approach?
While Ghent is struggling with the expansion of the low-emission zone, Rotterdam will do away with its environmental zone. Lukas Vanacker of newspaper De Tijd already has some useful ones considerations because Rotterdam removed the 'environmental zone' that the Dutch city only established in 1 on 2016 January.
“Belgium is a diesel country much more than the Netherlands”, explains Nils Hooftman, expert car emissions at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). 'A third of the Belgian diesel fleet still has a Euro5 engine. You cannot immediately demand that only the newest Euro 6 be allowed in the city. ”
