Belgian roads!

JayVeeYork
JayVeeYork Forum Participant Posts: 23
edited April 2016 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

I gave the title an exclamation mark because I have heard and read so many things about Belgian roads and, more particular, (poor) BElgin drivers.  Once and for all, can someone tell me whether the rumours (dreadful potholed roads with maniac drivers!) are
right?  We are now considering a trip from Rotterdam through Holland then the tip (relative!) of Belgian to Luxembourg.  Any tips please?  My hubby is mad keen to get the visit (for Sempt this year) but, as always, I've been doing loads of "research" and am
currently not at all keen on going anywhere near Belgium, not that I do any of the driving, but the idea of having to drive our new caravan over potholes doesn't appeal one bit, far too stressful!  Our return journey is to be via Rudsheim in Germany, then
Delft (gorgeous place) before catching ferry back home. Help!!

Comments

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #2

    I obviously can't speak for the condition of every road, but from Calais to Ostend and then west to east from Ostend to Liege and into Germany was pothole free and on par with our motorway surfaces. Also tried some of the more minor roads on the way back and visiting Ypres, Ok by me but it did have bad press quite a few years back.

  • JayVeeYork
    JayVeeYork Forum Participant Posts: 23
    edited April 2016 #3

    Thanks Dave, that's encouraging. Cheers.

  • holmesonwheels24
    holmesonwheels24 Forum Participant Posts: 148
    edited April 2016 #4

    Bet i can guess who will post on here. 

    I have found the roads ok going from the channel ports towards Brugge and then down towards Luxie and Germany. Did not notice any major problems with driving standards, can get busy on Brussels ring but no worse than M25.

  • Hazel
    Hazel Forum Participant Posts: 185
    edited April 2016 #5

    Morning JayVeeYork

    I drove to Camping la Parc Clusure (south of Namur) via Bruges and Brussels back in 2014, most of the journey was done on the two lane motorways. There were about 5 or 6 sections that were in very bad condition with signs warning drivers to slow down, the
    bad sections were not very large probably about 20 – 40 meters but they did make my teeth rattle! Of course this was 2 years ago, so they could have improved? There were large sections of roads that were absolutely fine. As long as you slow down over the bad
    sections you should be fine.

    I am going back to La Parc Clusure for a holiday in June (it is a fabulous campsite!) but this will be in a car as I have hired a static. The roads have certainly not put me off from going back.

    Concerning maniac drivers – not my experience at all! I don’t remember any incidents with other drivers or feeling unsafe at any time. Given a choice between Italy and Belgium I would always choose Belgium!

    I have only been to Italy once (Rome area) and I was overtaken by a man on a moped with a dog sitting on his handle bars!! Italian drivers seem to totally ignore the speed limits and get annoyed with drivers who stick to them.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited April 2016 #6
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  • DiverPhil
    DiverPhil Forum Participant Posts: 96
    edited April 2016 #7

    We have used Belgium roads both towing a caravan and with a motorhome towing a trailer. All I will say is we didn't have a problem and to be perfectly honest the roads in the UK are far worse than anything we have experianced abroad.

  • Mitsi Fendt
    Mitsi Fendt Forum Participant Posts: 484
    100 Comments
    edited April 2016 #8

    My experience of Belgian motorways was in Summer 2013 from Luxembourg to Calais. They were awful, rutted, surface worn away and white lines worn out. That was nearly 3 years ago so hopefully things would have improved. The section of motorway in France until
    the toll plaza was not much better either. Every poster will have had a different experience. Don't let it stop you heading for Luxembourg. It's very nice there.

  • DiverPhil
    DiverPhil Forum Participant Posts: 96
    edited April 2016 #9

    Hazel, I would agree with you about Italy. Its some years ago now but I once had an italien moped rider hold onto the rear grab handle of the caravan while going uphillSurprised its
    not unusual to see 3 on a scooterLaughing

  • Hazel
    Hazel Forum Participant Posts: 185
    edited April 2016 #10

    Hi DiverPhil

    The image of that really made me laugh!!

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #11

    In the last couple of years the roads in Belgium have had a lot of work done to them and they are now as good as, or better than, ours. 

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2016 #12

    There are a few back roads that are worse. than anything in the UK......however, they are generally no better or worse than any other country.

    https://www.google.com/maps/@51.1236287,2.7668222,3a,75y,196.37h,63.89t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1shZBMCr401gvQpTwn3abXEA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

    The link is to a 10 MPH only road near Nieupoort but it doesn't look at all bad!!!!!

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited April 2016 #13
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  • Longtimecaravanner
    Longtimecaravanner Forum Participant Posts: 642
    edited April 2016 #14

    We drove from Dunkirk through Belgium to the Luxembourg/German border in 2013 and certainly did not think that they were any worse than roads in this country.

  • DianneT
    DianneT Forum Participant Posts: 521
    100 Comments
    edited April 2016 #15

    We have been driving down the route from Calais to the Brussels Ring down to Liege and then to Verviers and onto Bitburg/Mosel and never had a problem with that road for over 35 years, last 12 with the caravan.  I find the road  from the   Ring to Liege
    very straight and boring.  The Belgium drivers on the Ring are a bit mad, worst we have ever encountered.  The other route approached from Lille, Namur to Liege has been bad for years but I believe it has had some serious work done on it in the last 3 years.

    DianneT

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #16

    Yes Dianne, the Lille - Liege road has been improved!

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
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    edited April 2016 #17

    David having stayed at De Zwerver quite a few times over recent years, and each time using that road to return to the main roads..... I can assure you that I don't tell lies!!

    PS. I drive a motorhome, perhaps you drive a Rolls Royce and don't notice the ripples on the tarmac and old concrete!!!!!!

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited April 2016 #18
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  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #19

    Towing a caravan you don't get to hear all those lovely rattles AD Laughing  must admit I don't get to nod off in the M/H as I used
    to do when towing the caravanWink

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2016 #20

    Yes...differ we will!

    Of all the roads in all the countries we have visited in Caravans and a Motorhome that road is/was excepional.

  • Tigi
    Tigi Forum Participant Posts: 1,038
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    edited April 2016 #21

    There are dreadful more minor concrete roads in some parts, around Oudenhard comes to mind, but agree the main roads are as good as most after all the upgrading they have done.

  • GyynNorma
    GyynNorma Forum Participant Posts: 69
    edited April 2016 #22

    Holiday in August 2015 found the main roads much the same as UK. Many town roads and  markings need attention, but some towns have cobbled surfaces which are awfull. As for Drivers found them impatient tending to flash you or honk if you are too slow for
    them. But do not let it spoil your enjoyment.

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2016 #23

    I posted a thread about three years ago headed "Bumpy Belgium". The motorways in the southern parts were dire and there were many roadworks; so bad that I was instructed by OH never to go that way again. I can only assume things have improved. The parking
    areas at some of the "Aires" was vast but the facilities mediocre. Sites were generally poor.

  • Marsker
    Marsker Club Member Posts: 68 ✭✭
    edited April 2016 #24

    I have to agree with the general consensus that the motorways and main roads are of a reasonable standard, but some secondary roads leave much to be desired.

    One point to be aware of is the place names on signposts, with Belgium having 2 languages the names can be quite different and only the local one for a place is shown on signposts. I remember approaching Brussels from the Rotterdam direction looking for
    signs for Liege, not realising straight away that "Luik" on the signposts was actually the Flemish spelling for Liege. Many are quite similar (e.g. Brugge/Bruges, Namen/Namur), but others can be quite testing (e.g. Bergen/Mons, Antwerpen/Anvers, Rijsel/Lille).
    If you're using a Michelin map, generally the Walloon spelling is shown with the Flemish spelling in brackets.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited April 2016 #25

    Bit like Welsh road signs then.

  • Marsker
    Marsker Club Member Posts: 68 ✭✭
    edited April 2016 #26

    Only a bit, in my experience Welsh road signs tend to be bilingual! The Belgians aren't that accommodating, in Flanders they're in Flemish and in Wallonia they're in French.

  • GyynNorma
    GyynNorma Forum Participant Posts: 69
    edited April 2016 #27

    I thought that being Welsh and used to bilingual signs would be a great advantage, but it is not, you have to use the maps to follow the name or names. A couple of years ago we were heading for Luik as above and ended up in a farmyard, it was a temporary
    diversion. Which is something else they are not as good as UK.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited April 2016 #28
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  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #29

    Doesn't Aachen = Aix La Chapelle!

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