Belgian Commute Tops One Hour Daily for First Time
For the first time on record, the average Belgian worker now spends more than one hour per day commuting. According to a new international study by SD Worx, Belgian employees average 61 minutes of daily travel to and from work — well above the European average of 48 minutes across the 16 countries surveyed. The milestone cements Belgium’s position as Europe’s commuting champion, a title it has held for several consecutive years.
Europe’s Longest Commute
The survey, conducted between January 27 and February 20, 2026, polled 16,000 employees across 15 European countries plus the United Kingdom, including more than 1,000 in Belgium. The findings reveal that 13 percent of Belgian workers commute two hours or more per day — the highest share of all surveyed countries and well above the international average of 8 percent. Additionally, 14 percent of Belgians travel more than 120 kilometers daily for work, one of the largest groups in Europe.
The average Belgian commuting distance now stands at 32 kilometers per day, or 16 kilometers each way. As HLN reports, only the Netherlands approaches Belgium’s commuting distances among surveyed nations.
The ‘Brick in the Stomach’ Culture
Experts point to deeply rooted cultural and historical factors to explain Belgium’s extreme commuting patterns. Stijn Baert, labor economist at Ghent University and work expert for HLN, highlights Belgium’s exceptionally high home ownership rate. “Belgians are much more inclined than in other countries to buy a house instead of renting,” Baert said. “Owning a home means we are much less likely to follow our work when we change jobs. We simply stay where we live.”
About 70 percent of Flemish people own their own home — a rate significantly higher than in neighboring countries. This “brick in the stomach” culture means Belgians are far less willing to relocate for employment opportunities, choosing instead to endure long daily commutes.
Historical Roots of Belgian Commuting
The pattern has deep historical origins. According to Hajo Beeckman, mobility expert at VRT NWS, the root cause dates back to the 19th century, when political leaders deliberately chose to keep workers in rural areas rather than allowing mass migration to cities. “People were afraid that a large migration from countryside to cities would have political influence,” Beeckman explained. “Politicians literally wanted to promote living under the church tower.” Highways and rail connections were subsequently built to facilitate daily commuting from rural areas to economic centers.
Today, Belgians live widely dispersed across the countryside while working in concentrated economic hubs — the ports of Ghent, Antwerp, and Zeebrugge, and the knowledge centers of Brussels. “That is why we are massively dependent on highways,” Beeckman noted. Only 3 out of 10 Belgians live in central cities with good rail connections to major employment centers.
Gender Divide in Commuting Patterns
The study reveals significant differences between men and women. Men commute an average of 65 minutes per day compared to 56 minutes for women, with twice as many men (23 percent) as women (12 percent) traveling more than 100 kilometers daily. Women also set their acceptable commuting limit lower — 47 minutes versus 67 minutes for men — and are more likely to want additional home-working options.
“Behind that average are big differences,” said Veerle Michiels, mobility expert at SD Worx. “Men commute considerably longer than women, while women more often indicate they need additional home-working options. Employers would do well to take those divergent expectations into account.”
Public Transport Gaps
Despite the long commutes, most Belgians see public transport as an inadequate alternative. Only 25 percent of women and 28 percent of men find public transport convenient, reliable, and easily accessible — significantly below the European average of 36 percent. The rail network, while relatively reliable compared to countries like Germany, serves only a small fraction of commuters effectively.
Remarkably, Belgians appear to have largely accepted long travel times as part of the job. The average commute of 61 minutes now exceeds the 57-minute threshold that Belgian workers themselves identify as their acceptable limit. Yet only 34 percent say commuting costs them significant work time — barely above the international average of 32 percent.
What’s Next
As reader accounts collected by VRT NWS illustrate, the human cost of Belgium’s commuting culture is substantial — workers describe waking in the early morning hours, spending three hours daily in traffic, and devoting up to 11 hours per day to work-related activities.
Michiels suggests that employers have a significant role to play in easing the burden. “Employers who deal smartly with hybrid work and flexible schedules make an important difference today,” she said. The mobility budget — which allows employees to exchange their company car for more sustainable or better-fitting mobility solutions — is one policy tool that could reshape commuting patterns in the years ahead.
With commuting times rising steadily from 53 minutes in 2024 to 57 minutes in 2025 and now 61 minutes in 2026, the trend shows no sign of reversing without deliberate intervention. Whether through housing policy, public transport investment, or workplace flexibility, the question of how Belgians get to work is becoming an increasingly urgent societal challenge.