Cable on Zeelandbrug Causes Mass Crash, Injuring Belgian Cyclists
A group of approximately 14 Belgian cyclists were seriously injured on Sunday, July 5, when a cable stretched across the bike path of the Zeelandbrug bridge in the Netherlands caused a mass crash. The incident has left nine cyclists wounded, six of whom were hospitalized, and has prompted an investigation by Dutch police into how the cord came to be on the path.
The Incident
The crash occurred on the morning of Sunday, July 5 on the Zeelandbrug, a five-kilometer bridge connecting Colijnsplaat with Zierikzee in the province of Zeeland. Two cycling clubs — Jes Carwash from Wildert (Essen, Belgium) and Wielerclub De Maatjes from Nieuwmoer (Kalmthout, Belgium) — had met while cycling from the Noorderkempen region toward the Netherlands and were riding together when disaster struck.
According to VRT NWS, a cable or cord — believed to be from a large kite — was hanging across the bike path. The first cyclist in the group was struck on the arm and neck, suffering serious cuts. Several riders behind him crashed in the ensuing chaos.
As the cyclists attempted to remove the cord from the first rider’s helmet, a passing van struck the cable, causing it to snap back under tension and inflict further deep cuts on multiple riders.
Injuries and Hospitalization
NU.nl reported that nine cyclists were injured in total. Six were taken to hospital by ambulance, while three were treated at a general practitioner after-hours clinic. Among the injured was Arno Aerden, a member of Jes Carwash and an alderman in Essen, who suffered a broken collarbone.
A police spokesperson described the danger of the cord to NU.nl: “The cord at that speed on a bike is like a knife on your body.”
All victims have since been discharged from hospital, though several face long rehabilitation for deep cuts.
Witness Accounts
Stijn Delcroix of Wielerclub De Maatjes described the scene to VRT NWS: “It was particularly intense scenes. There was a lot of blood, panic and especially great concern for the seriously injured.” He added that an ambulance happened to pass by and provide immediate first aid before additional emergency services arrived.
The N256 road was temporarily closed in both directions while emergency services attended to the injured and police began their investigation.
Police Investigation
The Dutch police (Zeeland-West-Brabant) have launched an investigation under case number PL2000-2026183074. The cord has not been recovered — it is believed to have been dragged away by a passing vehicle.
Police are investigating two possibilities: that the cord was deliberately stretched across the path, or that it was blown there by wind and became caught. They are actively seeking witnesses, particularly the driver of the van that may have inadvertently dragged the cord.
Calls for Mutual Respect
Arno Aerden, speaking to VRT NWS after the incident, called for greater mutual respect on the roads. “All in all, everyone is doing well now. We are all still very shaken. For the people with deep cuts, a long rehabilitation awaits.”
Aerden also expressed shock at negative online reactions directed at cyclists. “We were also shocked by some negative reactions towards cyclists that we saw online, while we just had brutal bad luck. Mutual respect in traffic is disappearing,” he said. “We call for more mutual respect in traffic, because that is far gone.”
Background
The Zeelandbrug is a popular route for Belgian cyclists from the Antwerp region cycling toward the Dutch coast. Jes Carwash reportedly makes the journey toward Zeeland weekly. The incident has highlighted potential safety hazards on the bridge’s bike path and raised questions about maintenance and debris hazards for cyclists traveling at speed.
What’s Next
Police continue to investigate how the cord came to be on the bike path. Depending on their findings, charges could range from reckless endangerment to more serious offenses if the cord was deliberately placed. The incident may also prompt a review of safety measures on the Zeelandbrug and similar infrastructure used by cyclists across the Benelux region.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police Zeeland-West-Brabant at 0900-8844.