Contact |
Sitemap |
Disclaimer
Search

Home
Safety
Toll payments
Route information
F.A.Q.
N.V. Westerscheldetunnel

Nederlands
English
Deutsch
Français

Kanaalkruising Sluiskil

F.A.Q.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

Tunnel
The Westerschelde Tunnel is a category 1 tunnel. What does that mean? The tunnel is intended for use by all passenger and goods vehicles (except for the bulk transport of LPG, radioactive materials and explosives). Are cyclists allowed to pass through the tunnel? No, slow traffic (such as bicycles, mopeds and tractors) is not allowed in the tunnel. From 2004, pedestrians and cyclists will be able to travel from Vlissingen to Breskens and vice versa with a fast, new ferry service. Until then, the existing ferry services will continue for these groups. BBA Fast Ferries will run the new Fast Ferry service. Two identical ferryboats will ply the route, each of them with a carrying capacity of 181 passengers. The top deck contains the passenger seating, while the lower deck holds the bicycles and mopeds. The ferries are over 37 metres long and 17 metres wide. They will travel at a speed of over 26 kilometres per hour. Is the tunnel really safe? Safety was given top priority in the construction of the tunnel, making the Westerschelde Tunnel one of the safest in Europe. The tunnel consists of two parallel tunnels, each with two lanes. This means there is no oncoming traffic, which rules out any chance of a head-on collision. Just once every two weeks only one tunnel tube will be available for use over Friday night while routine maintenance is carried out. A great deal of care goes into fire prevention. Transverse connections every 250 metres guarantee a safe evacuation route in case of an emergency. In addition, there are brightly-lit emergency assistance posts every 50 metres, equipped with a dry powder fire extinguisher, a fire hose and an intercom for direct contact with the tunnel guard. He uses modern equipment such as cameras, detection devices, traffic signals and the emergency aid posts to exercise permanent surveillance of the tunnel. The tunnel guard is the road users first point-of-contact. Depending on the situation, he can call in the tunnel maintenance service, breakdown services or the emergency services. Of course, your safety and the safety of other road users, also depends on your driving behaviour. Can anyone use the tunnel? All vehicles that can and are allowed to drive at 80 kph (50 mph) may use the Westerschelde Tunnel. In practice, this means that any vehicle may use the tunnel, except for slow-moving traffic (e.g. tractors, mopeds, cyclists and pedestrians). Where is the Westerschelde Tunnel located? The Westerschelde Tunnel, 6.6 km in length, connects the towns of Terneuzen, in Dutch Flanders (Zeeuws Vlaanderen), and Goes in South Beveland. What happens if my vehicle is too high to enter the tunnel? A detection system has been installed before the tunnel entrance that prevents vehicles that are too tall from entering and diverts them via separate service roads. Is the tunnel being monitored? The tunnel guard watches over the tunnel 24 hours per day. He is assisted in this continuous surveillance by a well-equipped control room. He is your first point of contact for resolving problems in the tunnel. You can contact the tunnel guard directly using the intercom at the emergency assistance posts, located at 50-metre intervals. He will take whatever measures are necessary. In no time at all, he will arrange for your vehicle to be towed away in the event of a breakdown or an accident (the special road assistance service will be with you within 15 minutes; recovery costs are chargeable to the driver of the vehicle). If necessary, he will alert the emergency services (police, fire and ambulance) or guide you to the adjacent tunnel through one of the transverse connections. If necessary, he will even close off the lane you are in or stop all traffic in the tunnel.

Tunnel

The Westerschelde Tunnel is a category 1 tunnel. What does that mean?

The tunnel is intended for use by all passenger and goods vehicles (except for the bulk transport of LPG, radioactive materials and explosives).

Are cyclists allowed to pass through the tunnel?

No, slow traffic (such as bicycles, mopeds and tractors) is not allowed in the tunnel.

From 2004, pedestrians and cyclists will be able to travel from Vlissingen to Breskens and vice versa with a fast, new ferry service. Until then, the existing ferry services will continue for these groups.

BBA Fast Ferries will run the new Fast Ferry service. Two identical ferryboats will ply the route, each of them with a carrying capacity of 181 passengers. The top deck contains the passenger seating, while the lower deck holds the bicycles and mopeds. The ferries are over 37 metres long and 17 metres wide. They will travel at a speed of over 26 kilometres per hour.

Is the tunnel really safe?

Safety was given top priority in the construction of the tunnel, making the Westerschelde Tunnel one of the safest in Europe. The tunnel consists of two parallel tunnels, each with two lanes. This means there is no oncoming traffic, which rules out any chance of a head-on collision. Just once every two weeks only one tunnel tube will be available for use over Friday night while routine maintenance is carried out.

A great deal of care goes into fire prevention. Transverse connections every 250 metres guarantee a safe evacuation route in case of an emergency. In addition, there are brightly-lit emergency assistance posts every 50 metres, equipped with a dry powder fire extinguisher, a fire hose and an intercom for direct contact with the tunnel guard. He uses modern equipment such as cameras, detection devices, traffic signals and the emergency aid posts to exercise permanent surveillance of the tunnel.
The tunnel guard is the road users first point-of-contact. Depending on the situation, he can call in the tunnel maintenance service, breakdown services or the emergency services.
Of course, your safety and the safety of other road users, also depends on your driving behaviour.

Can anyone use the tunnel?

All vehicles that can and are allowed to drive at 80 kph (50 mph) may use the Westerschelde Tunnel. In practice, this means that any vehicle may use the tunnel, except for slow-moving traffic (e.g. tractors, mopeds, cyclists and pedestrians).

Where is the Westerschelde Tunnel located?

The Westerschelde Tunnel, 6.6 km in length, connects the towns of Terneuzen, in Dutch Flanders (Zeeuws Vlaanderen), and Goes in South Beveland.

What happens if my vehicle is too high to enter the tunnel?

A detection system has been installed before the tunnel entrance that prevents vehicles that are too tall from entering and diverts them via separate service roads.

Is the tunnel being monitored?

The tunnel guard watches over the tunnel 24 hours per day. He is assisted in this continuous surveillance by a well-equipped control room.

He is your first point of contact for resolving problems in the tunnel. You can contact the tunnel guard directly using the intercom at the emergency assistance posts, located at 50-metre intervals. He will take whatever measures are necessary.

In no time at all, he will arrange for your vehicle to be towed away in the event of a breakdown or an accident (the special road assistance service will be with you within 15 minutes; recovery costs are chargeable to the driver of the vehicle). If necessary, he will alert the emergency services (police, fire and ambulance) or guide you to the adjacent tunnel through one of the transverse connections. If necessary, he will even close off the lane you are in or stop all traffic in the tunnel.

Toll plaza
How to pay at the tunnel? Customers can pay in four ways: 1. Through the T-Tag subscription . the quickest way, and the cheapest. Subscribers enjoy a huge discount per passage. 2. By credit card: American Express, Visa, MasterCard, DKV, Routex and EuroShell. 3. The .Chipknip., or electronic wallet. 4. Cash. How will I know where to pay? At 250 metres before the tollgates, special information boards tell you where to go to pay by T-Tag, credit card, Chipknip or cash. Which payment method is quickest? The T-Tag subscription is the quickest way to get you through each of the six tollgates. Two gates are equipped to take payment by credit card or Chipknip. Up to three gates can take payment in cash.

Toll plaza

How to pay at the tunnel?

Customers can pay in four ways:

1. Through the T-Tag subscription . the quickest way, and the cheapest.
Subscribers enjoy a huge discount per passage.

2. By credit card: American Express, Visa, MasterCard, DKV, Routex and EuroShell.

3. The .Chipknip., or electronic wallet.

4. Cash.

How will I know where to pay?

At 250 metres before the tollgates, special information boards tell you where to go to pay by T-Tag, credit card, Chipknip or cash.

Which payment method is quickest?

The T-Tag subscription is the quickest way to get you through each of the six tollgates. Two gates are equipped to take payment by credit card or Chipknip. Up to three gates can take payment in cash.

t-tag
How to apply for a t-tag? By telephone, e-mail, fax or post. Go to contact information. Can I also use my T-Tag for other categories? Yes. For example, if you ordered a T-Tag for Category 1, you can also use it for other categories, so you can install it in any vehicle you like. This is possible because your vehicle is measured and categorized each time you pass through the tunnel. The T-Tags are the same for each category; only the fee charged per category is different.There are also differences in the initial direct debit amount and the top-up threshold. Should you like to order a T-Tag, then please complete the application form with the practical details. You authorize N.V. Westerscheldetunnel to debit your bank or giro account by 10 euros for each T-Tag. The tag remains the property of N.V. Westerscheldetunnel. In order to pay the toll fees, you authorize the company to debit your bank or giro account by an initial sum of 60 euros (in the case of cars and motorbikes). For lorries, the initial sum starts at 200 euros. Whenever your account balance with N.V. Westerscheldetunnel drops below the threshold (10 euros for cars and motorbikes, 50 euros for lorries), it is topped up with the initial amount by direct debit. This means that you always have enough in your balance to pay the toll fee. What does a t-tag subscription involve? A T-Tag gets you a huge discount (about 20%) every time you drive through the tunnel. The convenient T-Tag also allows you to pay the toll even when you have no cash on you; your account is topped up automatically whenever necessary. In addition, if you have up to three tags you can opt to receive a quarterly usage summary. If you have 3 or more, you will be sent (if you so wish) a usage summary every month. Furthermore, all subscribers can view an up-to-date summary of their usage at any time via this website. What does the t-tag cost? The T-Tag is free of charge. We just ask for an initial deposit of 10 euros per t-tag. Besides, your bank or giro account is automatically debited . 60 Euros per t-tag for Categories 1 and 2, 200 euros per t-tag for Categories 3 and 4 - to provide you with a credit surplus on your tunnel account. When this credit has almost been used up, your account will be automatically replenished with another 60 or 200 euros by direct debit from your bank or giro account.

t-tag

How to apply for a t-tag?

By telephone, e-mail, fax or post.

Go to contact information.

Can I also use my T-Tag for other categories?

Yes. For example, if you ordered a T-Tag for Category 1, you can also use it for other categories, so you can install it in any vehicle you like. This is possible because your vehicle is measured and categorized each time you pass through the tunnel. The T-Tags are the same for each category; only the fee charged per category is different.There are also differences in the initial direct debit amount and the top-up threshold.

Should you like to order a T-Tag, then please complete the application form with the practical details. You authorize N.V. Westerscheldetunnel to debit your bank or giro account by 10 euros for each T-Tag. The tag remains the property of N.V. Westerscheldetunnel. In order to pay the toll fees, you authorize the company to debit your bank or giro account by an initial sum of 60 euros (in the case of cars and motorbikes). For lorries, the initial sum starts at 200 euros. Whenever your account balance with N.V. Westerscheldetunnel drops below the threshold (10 euros for cars and motorbikes, 50 euros for lorries), it is topped up with the initial amount by direct debit. This means that you always have enough in your balance to pay the toll fee.

What does a t-tag subscription involve?

A T-Tag gets you a huge discount (about 20%) every time you drive through the tunnel. The convenient T-Tag also allows you to pay the toll even when you have no cash on you; your account is topped up automatically whenever necessary. In addition, if you have up to three tags you can opt to receive a quarterly usage summary. If you have 3 or more, you will be sent (if you so wish) a usage summary every month. Furthermore, all subscribers can view an up-to-date summary of their usage at any time via this website.

What does the t-tag cost?

The T-Tag is free of charge. We just ask for an initial deposit of 10 euros per t-tag. Besides, your bank or giro account is automatically debited . 60 Euros per t-tag for Categories 1 and 2, 200 euros per t-tag for Categories 3 and 4 - to provide you with a credit surplus on your tunnel account. When this credit has almost been used up, your account will be automatically replenished with another 60 or 200 euros by direct debit from your bank or giro account.

Fees
What are the fees The fee depends on the category of vehicle passing through the tunnel. A t-tag gets you a discount on the basic fee. The following vehicle categories are recognized: Category 1: vehicles d6 metres in length and d2.50 metres in height. Category 2: vehicles > 6 metres in length and d2.50 metres in height. Category 3: vehicles d12 metres in length and > 2.50 metres in height. Category 4: vehicles > 12 metres in length > 2.50 metres in height. The following charges (in euros) apply (with / without T-Tag): Category 1: 4.70 / 3.70 Category 2: 7.00 / 5.50 Category 3: 17.20 / 13.40 Category 4: 23.50 / 18.50 All charges include 19% VAT.

Fees

What are the fees

The fee depends on the category of vehicle passing through the tunnel. A t-tag gets you a discount on the basic fee. The following vehicle categories are recognized:

Category 1: vehicles d6 metres in length and d2.50 metres in height.
Category 2: vehicles > 6 metres in length and d2.50 metres in height.
Category 3: vehicles d12 metres in length and > 2.50 metres in height.
Category 4: vehicles > 12 metres in length > 2.50 metres in height.

The following charges (in euros) apply (with / without T-Tag):

Category 1: 4.70 / 3.70
Category 2: 7.00 / 5.50
Category 3: 17.20 / 13.40
Category 4: 23.50 / 18.50

All charges include 19% VAT.

Safety
The Westerschelde Tunnel is a category 1 tunnel. What does that mean? The tunnel is intended for use by all passenger and goods vehicles (except for the bulk transport of LPG, radioactive materials and explosives). Is the tunnel really safe? Safety was given top priority in the construction of the tunnel, making the Westerschelde Tunnel one of the safest in Europe. The tunnel consists of two parallel tunnels, each with two lanes. This means there is no oncoming traffic, which rules out any chance of a head-on collision. Just once every two weeks only one tunnel tube will be available for use over Friday night while routine maintenance is carried out. A great deal of care goes into fire prevention. Transverse connections every 250 metres guarantee a safe evacuation route in case of an emergency. In addition, there are brightly-lit emergency assistance posts every 50 metres, equipped with a dry powder fire extinguisher, a fire hose and an intercom for direct contact with the tunnel guard. He uses modern equipment such as cameras, detection devices, traffic signals and the emergency aid posts to exercise permanent surveillance of the tunnel. The tunnel guard is the road users first point-of-contact. Depending on the situation, he can call in the tunnel maintenance service, breakdown services or the emergency services. Of course, your safety and the safety of other road users, also depends on your driving behaviour. What happens if my vehicle is too high to enter the tunnel? A detection system has been installed before the tunnel entrance that prevents vehicles that are too tall from entering and diverts them via separate service roads. Is the tunnel being monitored? The tunnel guard watches over the tunnel 24 hours per day. He is assisted in this continuous surveillance by a well-equipped control room. He is your first point of contact for resolving problems in the tunnel. You can contact the tunnel guard directly using the intercom at the emergency assistance posts, located at 50-metre intervals. He will take whatever measures are necessary. In no time at all, he will arrange for your vehicle to be towed away in the event of a breakdown or an accident (the special road assistance service will be with you within 15 minutes; recovery costs are chargeable to the driver of the vehicle). If necessary, he will alert the emergency services (police, fire and ambulance) or guide you to the adjacent tunnel through one of the transverse connections. If necessary, he will even close off the lane you are in or stop all traffic in the tunnel.

Safety