June 5, 2026

Dendermonde Tunnel to Link AZ Sint-Blasius with 5 Highways

November 10, 2025
52193

Dendermonde (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A bicycle and pedestrian tunnel near Dendermonde station will link AZ Sint-Blasius to 5 cycle highways. Construction began in 2025 and is expected to finish in 3 years, improving safety and mobility.

As VRT News reported, a new bicycle and pedestrian tunnel is under construction near Dendermonde station. 5 major cycle highways meet in the city. These are the F44 from Ghent to Mechelen, the F43 from Aalst to Sint-Niklaas, the F19 from Dendermonde to Boom, the F221 from Dendermonde to Asse, and the F413 from Lokeren to Dendermonde. The tunnel will connect all 5 routes. Cyclists and pedestrians will be able to pass safely under busy streets and railway lines. 

What will Dendermonde’s new tunnel mean for AZ Sint-Blasius and 5-cycle highways?

According to officials, the tunnel will create a direct connection between AZ Sint-Blasius Hospital and the station. Patients, staff, and visitors will be able to walk or cycle safely without crossing busy streets or railway lines. 

According to Eeckhout, the project will make daily travel easier for residents.

“This way, they can take a safe route to the station via Kalendijk. They no longer have to cross the busy Sint-Gillislaan or go through the station roundabout.”

The tunnel is expected to be completed within the next 3 years. Authorities say the tunnel will reduce congestion, improve safety, and support more cycling and walking in the area. 

Dendermonde has been a key hub for cyclists in East Flanders for many years. Plans for a new bicycle and pedestrian tunnel near the station were first proposed in 2019 to improve safety and travel for residents. Construction officially started in 2025 after studies and planning by local authorities. 

Similar projects have been completed in Belgium in recent years to improve safety and access for cyclists and pedestrians. In 2018, a tunnel opened under the Brussels North railway junction, connecting neighbourhoods and major cycling routes. In 2020, Leuven built a bicycle and pedestrian tunnel under Diestsesteenweg, linking the city centre with residential areas and regional cycle highways. In 2021, Ghent completed a tunnel near Gent-Sint-Pieters station.

Eurotoday is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.

Comments

18 responses to “Dendermonde Tunnel to Link AZ Sint-Blasius with 5 Highways”

  1. Vixen Avatar
    Vixen

    Oh joy, a tunnel for cyclists and pedestrians in Dendermonde—because dodging cars on the way to the hospital was just too mainstream, right? 🚴‍♂️💨 Can’t wait for the grand opening in three years, or as we say here, “it’s just around the corner!” 😏

    Reply
  2. lunar treat Avatar
    lunar treat

    Oh great, just what we needed—a fancy underground route for cyclists to dodge cars while we still struggle with our train schedules. 🤦‍♂️ I can already hear the “bicycle rush hour” echoing through Dendermonde! 🚴‍♂️💨

    Reply
  3. roller girl Avatar
    roller girl

    Oh joy, another tunnel to help cyclists dodge the chaos of Dendermonde’s busy roads. I suppose we’ll finally see those poor souls who were previously forced to brave the traffic now pedaling in peace—how revolutionary! 😂🚴‍♂️

    Reply
  4. Sky Herald Avatar
    Sky Herald

    Oh great, another tunnel to make life easier for the cyclists—because dodging cars was just too mainstream, right? 🚴‍♂️💨 Can’t wait for the grand opening—do we get a free bike with our hospital visit? 😂

    Reply
  5. nacho Avatar
    nacho

    Just what we needed, another tunnel to make cycling safe for the brave souls dodging cars – because nothing says “progress” like great underground adventures in Dendermonde! 🚴‍♂️🌍 Bet those cyclists are over the moon about their new subterranean playground!

    Reply
  6. Knuckles Avatar
    Knuckles

    Oh joy, another tunnel to make our cycling experience even more “exciting” in Dendermonde! Who knew dodging cars was out, and underground pedaling was in? 🚴‍♂️💨

    Reply
  7. Winded On Friday Avatar
    Winded On Friday

    Oh, marvellous! Just what we needed—a fancy tunnel for the cyclists to dodge traffic while we sit in our cars, stuck in the same old jams. 🚲💨 Because nothing says progress like digging a hole to connect five roads that were already fine! 🥳

    Reply
  8. Brick Mooch Avatar
    Brick Mooch

    Just what we needed, another tunnel in Dendermonde! Because nothing screams “progress” like digging underground while we wait for the next train that might not come… 🚆💤

    Reply
  9. Cosmic Presence Avatar
    Cosmic Presence

    Just what we needed—a tunnel to make sure we can cycle under traffic without a care in the world. Because who needs a leisurely stroll on the surface when you can enjoy the thrill of being underground for three years, right? 😏🚴‍♂️

    Reply
  10. GuTzd Avatar
    GuTzd

    Oh, a tunnel for cyclists and pedestrians? Just what we needed—because dodging cars on the way to the hospital was getting too pedestrian! 😏🚴‍♂️

    Reply
  11. Kill Switch Avatar
    Kill Switch

    A tunnel for cyclists and pedestrians? Brilliant! Just what Dendermonde needed, because crossing a busy street was obviously too avant-garde for us. 🚴‍♂️👷‍♂️

    Reply
  12. shay Avatar
    shay

    Connecting a hospital to five highways via a tunnel? Brilliant! Because nothing says “healthcare” like navigating a labyrinth of underground cycling routes. 🚴‍♂️💼

    Reply
  13. juno cream Avatar
    juno cream

    Finally, a tunnel that’ll connect a hospital to cycle highways as if we’re all waiting for a bike to save us from a medical emergency! 🚴‍♂️ One can only hope it’s quicker than a taxi in rush hour! 🤷‍♂️

    Reply
  14. Suicide Crusher Avatar
    Suicide Crusher

    So, a tunnel for cyclists and pedestrians in Dendermonde, eh? Because nothing says “cutting-edge infrastructure” like a subterranean path under busy streets, perfect for dodging the occasional tram and the existential dread of the daily commute! 🚴‍♂️💨

    Reply
  15. Wanted Candy Avatar
    Wanted Candy

    So, we’re building a tunnel for bikes and pedestrians to avoid the busy streets… next, we’ll just have to figure out how to make traffic lights optional. 🚦💼

    Reply
  16. WeldMaster Avatar
    WeldMaster

    Gotta love how the Dendermonde Tunnel is the latest answer to our age-old question: “How do we make cycling and walking as complicated as possible?” 😂🚲 But hey, at least we’ll have a safe way to navigate the chaos of everyday life—right under it!

    Reply
  17. Tweety Bun Bun Avatar
    Tweety Bun Bun

    So, they finally decided that cycling and walking shouldn’t feel like an Olympic sport dodging traffic—how revolutionary! 🚴‍♂️💨 I can already hear the local politicians patting themselves on the back for this monumental achievement of connecting two points with a glorified mole tunnel.

    Reply
  18. bombay shivers Avatar
    bombay shivers

    Finally, a tunnel for the cyclists! Because nothing says “convenience” like digging a hole under the street for three years just to avoid a bit of traffic. 🚴‍♂️💨

    Reply

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