Touted Belgian road toll fee is too high, Dutch minister says

Belgium is considering introducing a nationwide annual charge for cars with foreign number plates, which could be as much as €100 a year for Dutch motorists.

Flanders and Wallonia are close to an agreement on introducing the road charge, with €100 for new cars being touted as the likely fee. Cars older than 20 years could face a charge of €125, Dutch media have reported.

Dutch transport minister Robert Tieman told reporters on Friday that while he accepts the need for the charge, the fee should also be proportionate. “€100 sounds quite high,” he said. “We need more information.”

Belgium is a major transit country for logistics and holiday traffic, and cars with foreign number plates account for around half of the kilometres driven on its roads.

Belgium wants and needs to improve its infrastructure, Tieman said. “Payment is fine, but it needs to be proportional. And that is not what the figures being quoted are.”

Tieman has not yet been in touch with his Belgian counterparts.