Flanders Overhauls Highway Signs: Upward Arrows, New Exit Markings

Flanders is giving its highway signage a major redesign. Directional arrows on overhead gantry signs will now point upward instead of diagonally downward, and the familiar green-yellow exit signs are being phased out in favor of international black-and-white symbols. The changes, introduced by the Flemish Agency for Roads and Traffic (AWV), aim to improve clarity, uniformity, and road safety across the region’s motorway network.

Why the Change?

According to VRT NWS, the need for new guidelines was significant. Flemish highway signage suffered from inconsistencies — different provinces used different layouts, arrow types, and placement methods. The existing AWV guidelines were outdated and not bundled into a single reference document, while the federal road code provided insufficient guidance for designers.

“Limiting information is crucial: less, but more relevant info per sign,” Thomas Lieben, AWV spokesperson, told VRT NWS.

What’s Changing?

The most visible change is the switch from downward-pointing arrows (“vallende pijlen”) to upward-pointing arrows (“staande pijlen”) on overhead gantry signs. Traffic psychologists say this is more intuitive. As HLN reports, Dutch traffic psychologist Gerard Tertoolen explained that upward arrows point in the direction you want to go — a logical forward movement — while downward arrows go against your sense of direction.

Stef Willems, a traffic expert at the Vias Institute, told VRT NWS: “An arrow pointing downward seems to tell something about where you are driving at that moment. That’s confusing, because often you only need to choose a direction kilometers ahead.” Willems added that research shows drivers with upward-pointing arrows make the right decision faster and sort into lanes better, and that the design aligns well with what drivers see on GPS and navigation app screens.

The second major change is the elimination of the classic green-yellow exit signs. These are being replaced by international black-and-white exit symbols integrated directly into the signage. The AWV’s official press release notes that the new symbols offer better contrast and readability.

Other changes include:

• Standardized arrow design: Only right-angled arrows with fixed shape and thickness will be used
• Simplified information: Through destinations removed from advance warning signs for non-highway exits
• Retroreflective signs become standard: Internally illuminated signs are phased out in favor of cheaper, equally readable reflective signs

Evidence-Based Design

The policy change is backed by real-world data. In March 2014, the Flemish government conducted an experiment with upward-pointing arrows on the Antwerp Ring. As De Morgen reported at the time, the results were dramatic: morning rush hour congestion at the Antwerp-Zuid junction decreased by 44%, average speeds increased by 10 km/h, and daily traffic jams shortened by up to half an hour.

Alignment with Neighbors

The new guidelines align Flemish signage with practices in the Netherlands, Germany, and France. The NOS notes that this international uniformity helps foreign drivers navigate Flemish roads and helps Flemish drivers abroad. AWV also coordinated with Walloon authorities to ensure the changes don’t create confusion at the regional border.

Gradual Rollout

Drivers won’t see all signs change overnight. AWV is taking a pragmatic, cost-conscious approach by replacing signs opportunistically — at new infrastructure projects, when old signs need replacement due to wear or accident damage, or at major construction sites. The first new signs will appear along the Antwerp and Brussels ring roads.

Expert Perspective

While traffic experts broadly support the change, they caution against expecting miracles. As Stef Willems noted: “Traffic will flow more smoothly, but you won’t solve structural traffic jams with this.”

Public reaction, as seen in comments on HLN’s coverage, has been mixed, with some questioning the cost amid Belgium’s ongoing budget challenges. However, AWV has emphasized that the gradual rollout minimizes additional expenditure.

What’s Next

The rollout will continue over several years as signs are replaced through normal infrastructure renewal cycles. The transition period will see old and new signage coexist, but AWV expects the improved clarity to benefit drivers immediately at the first installation sites.