The Briel project, with a long history dating back to 2009, aims to develop water-bound businesses along the Scheldt. A master plan, developed by the Province of East Flanders, POM Oost-Vlaanderen, and De Vlaamse Waterweg, forms the basis. The city of Dendermonde has consistently supported the project conditionally, believing that shifting goods transport from road to water offers significant societal benefits.
From the outset, the city linked its support to three crucial conditions: a solution for mobility issues in Baasrode, continued attention to the liveability of the sub-municipality, and a safe and adequate alternative cycling connection for recreational and functional travel. De Vlaamse Waterweg has already invested over 7 million euros in the project, primarily in land acquisitions and demolition work.
In the new vision for water-bound businesses from the Province of East Flanders and De Vlaamse Waterweg, Briel is positioned as a strategic leverage point, with a potential multipurpose terminal as a future development. In early 2026, the city indicated its willingness to actively participate in the Briel project group, provided the Agency for Roads and Traffic (AWV) also joins. As traffic flow largely occurs via a regional road, the city considers AWV an indispensable partner.
According to the city council, a project of this magnitude can only succeed if all involved partners take responsibility. Dendermonde notes that AWV currently states it has no funds allocated for the necessary infrastructure works and does not consider the project a priority. The city continues to support the ambition to enable more goods transport via water, but not at the expense of liveability and traffic safety in Baasrode.
“"We request a clear commitment from both De Vlaamse Waterweg and AWV. If such a commitment is not forthcoming, the city will be forced to withdraw its support in this matter."
Dendermonde asks the Flemish government to include the Briel project in the investment programs of both De Vlaamse Waterweg and the Agency for Roads and Traffic. The city emphasizes that the current uncertainty not only weighs on public opinion but also affects citizens, entrepreneurs, and associations confronted with a project whose realization, nearly twenty years after its initiation, remains uncertain. The city's support remains possible, but requires a clear commitment from the Flemish government to jointly work towards a future-oriented project that creates economic opportunities while safeguarding the liveability of Baasrode.
