Belgium Braces for Busiest Travel Weekend of Summer

Belgium is preparing for one of the most intense travel weekends of summer 2026 as holidaymakers take to the roads across Europe. The Flemish mobility organization VAB is urging drivers to avoid departing on Saturday, July 18, warning that it will be the heaviest traffic day of the weekend, according to VRT NWS.

A Weekend of Heavy Traffic

The weekend of July 17-19 is predicted to be exceptionally busy on European highways, particularly on routes to Southern France, the most popular destination for Belgian travelers. According to VAB’s 2026 summer survey, 63% of Belgians choose the car as their primary vacation transport, and France accounts for 61% of destinations, followed by Germany and the Netherlands at 18% each.

Jan Creten of VAB advised drivers to plan carefully. “Try especially not to depart on Saturday. That will be the heaviest traffic day of the weekend,” Creten said. “Sunday is actually the best travel day of the weekend. It will still be busy, especially with delays on the return journey.”

France: The Main Hotspot

French traffic authority Bison Futé has classified Saturday, July 18 as “red” (very busy) on key routes. The A7 between Lyon and Southern France and the A10 between Paris and Orléans are expected to see the worst congestion. The A75 through the Auvergne and the A9 towards Spain are rated “orange” (busy), as reported by Frankrijk.nl.

Adding to the complexity, the A6 (Autoroute du Soleil) near Fontainebleau was closed for days due to a major forest fire. While the road has partially reopened, one lane remains reserved for emergency services with a reduced speed limit of 90 km/h. Drivers are advised to consider alternative routes via Dijon, Reims, and Troyes, or through Luxembourg and Metz.

Not a ‘Black Saturday’ Yet

Despite the expected congestion, Creten emphasized that this weekend does not yet qualify as a “black Saturday” — the term used in France for the most severe traffic days of the summer. That distinction is reserved for August 1, 2026, the first Saturday of August, when French holiday regions experience their major changeover as July vacationers depart and August vacationers arrive.

Gert Verhoeven, another VAB spokesperson, confirmed this outlook in an earlier interview. “What will absolutely become a black weekend is August 1 and 2, the changeover weekend,” Verhoeven said. “There we will get the classic bottlenecks and traffic jams towards the Belgians’ favorite travel country, France.”

Broader European Outlook

Beyond France, heavy traffic is expected across much of Europe. In Germany, critical highways including the A3, A5, A7, A8, and A9 will face significant congestion, compounded by extensive roadworks. Southern Germany, particularly Bavaria and the Black Forest, faces a risk of afternoon and evening thunderstorms.

Austria will see very heavy traffic on all north-south connections, especially the Brennerautobahn (A13) towards Italy, where roadworks at the Luegbrücke are causing delays. Weekend exit bans remain in place along Tyrol’s Inntalautobahn (A12) to prevent rat-running. In Switzerland, long waiting times are expected at the Gotthard Tunnel and San Bernardino pass.

Severe thunderstorms are forecast across the Alps, Pyrenees, and Black Forest regions, adding an extra layer of risk for travelers.

Rising Costs and Practical Advice

Fuel prices have risen 15% in recent months, adding an estimated €50-80 to the cost of a round trip to Southern France (approximately 2,500 km). Despite this increase, the car remains the dominant mode of transport for Belgian holidaymakers.

VAB offers several practical recommendations for travelers:

Avoid Saturday, July 18 — this is the heaviest traffic day. Sunday is the best travel day of the weekend.
If traveling on Saturday is unavoidable, the best departure time is around mid-morning, according to VAB research.
Night driving — depart around 21:00-22:00 after a day of rest; avoid midnight departures.
Use traffic apps like Waze and follow local radio traffic information. In France, the general traffic information frequency is FM 107.7.
Check vignettes and environmental stickers required in various European countries before departure.
EV drivers should plan charging stops in advance and charge only to 80% to optimize time.
Take regular breaks to avoid fatigue — one in five summer accidents is fatigue-related.

Looking Ahead

While this weekend will be busy, the worst is yet to come. July 25 is predicted as a “dark red” Saturday when July vacationers return and August vacationers depart in a chassé-croisé (cross-over). August 1 remains the critical date, with a full “black Saturday” forecast. August 15 (Assumption Day) is also expected to see black code conditions on the Route du Soleil.

Travelers are urged to monitor traffic forecasts from Bison Futé and local authorities, plan alternative routes, and remain flexible with their schedules to avoid the worst of the summer traffic.