How do you get from Antwerp South to the port, the Left Bank and Doel?

Your team starts a job at a terminal on the Left Bank, a plant in Kallo or a contractor yard in Zwijndrecht. You want a base in Antwerp, not in an industrial zone, and you need to know which tunnel you will cross every morning.

How to get to the Port of Antwerp via the Kennedytunnel

The Kennedytunnel is the usual way to get to the Port of Antwerp’s Left Bank from Antwerp South. The tunnel carries the R1, the southern part of the Antwerp ring, under the Scheldt. From the Hoost building it is about 3.2 km by road to the tunnel. On the other side you continue towards Zwijndrecht, Kallo, Beveren and the Waasland port.

The tunnel is 690 metres long with a maximum height of 4 metres, according to the Vlaams Verkeerscentrum. Dangerous goods are not allowed through it. Trucks with an ADR load follow other routes, which matters for some contractor vans and supply runs.

The Kennedytunnel is also one of the busiest points on the ring. We do not give travel times, because they change by the hour. Check the live traffic map and the tunnel closure calendar of the Vlaams Verkeerscentrum before you leave. For a wider look at where companies house staff, see our pillar on where to stay in Antwerp for work.

Important

The Verkeerscentrum plans night closures of one Kennedytunnel tube from 21:00 to 05:00. The planned dates are 2 and 3 November, 7 and 8 December 2026, and 4 and 5 January 2027. The other tube stays open with limited passage in both directions. Plans can change, so check on the day.

How far is each part of the port from Antwerp South?

The port spreads over both banks of the Scheldt, so the distance from Antwerp South depends on where your gate is. Places on the south side, such as Hoboken and Blue Gate, are close. The Left Bank docks need the tunnel crossing. Doel and BASF in the far north are about 30 km by road.

Road distance from VIIde-Olympiadelaan 19 (fastest car route, no traffic)

We calculated these figures on 14 October 2026 from the building’s address point with OpenStreetMap routing. They show distance only, not how long the drive takes in rush hour. Morning traffic towards the Kennedytunnel can turn a short distance into a long drive, so leave a margin on the first day.

The Liefkenshoektunnel and the Oosterweel works

The Liefkenshoektunnel is the second motorway crossing under the Scheldt, on the R2 in the northern part of the port. The Liefkenshoektunnel is a toll tunnel run by NV Tunnel Liefkenshoek. The toll category depends only on vehicle height, with the limit at 3 metres. You pay with a badge or OBU, a bank card or cash.

For crews in Antwerp South, the Liefkenshoektunnel is mainly useful for the northern port and for ADR transport, because it is open to dangerous goods. The operator lists its current rates on the Liefkenshoektunnel website. The Verkeerscentrum plans night closures on 19 and 20 November and 10 and 11 December 2026, with traffic sent via the R1 and the Kennedytunnel.

The Waaslandtunnel in the city centre is not an alternative for work traffic. The Verkeerscentrum reserves it for local traffic between the two banks.

The Oosterweel link will add a third crossing. Lantis is building a new Scheldetunnel between the Sint-Anna junction on the Left Bank and the Oosterweel junction on the right bank. Under the current planning, the tunnel opens to cyclists from 2028 and to motorway traffic in 2030, and the whole link is finished in 2033. Lantis explains the timing in its answer on when the Oosterweel link opens.

Can you get to the port without a car?

Getting to the port without a car is possible for some jobs, according to Port of Antwerp-Bruges. The Pendelbus runs fixed routes to companies in the Waasland port, timed to shifts. Employees of affiliated companies can reserve a seat from Monday to Friday. The Bike Bus takes port workers and their bikes through the Tijsmans and Liefkenshoek tunnels for free.

Closer to Antwerp South, the Kennedy bicycle tunnel runs between the road tubes for cyclists and pedestrians. The port also points to DeWaterbus and ferries across the Scheldt, and to a carpool platform for employees of affiliated companies. Ask your client or employer which of these their site uses.

Accommodation next to the Kennedytunnel

Accommodation next to the Kennedytunnel suits crews who work on the Left Bank or on the south side of the city. Hoost has four furnished apartments in one building at VIIde-Olympiadelaan 19, in Antwerp South. That is the south side of the ring. It is quick for the Left Bank and for employers such as Umicore Hoboken or Blue Gate, but it is not in the port.

What the building offers a project team:

• Room for a crew: up to 14 guests, with up to 7 people in their own bedroom.
• Working evenings: a dedicated workspace with Wi-Fi and Ethernet in every apartment.
• Long jobs: stays from 2 nights to 6 months per booking, with a shared washing machine and dryer in the building.
• Paperwork: company invoicing is available.
• Cars: no parking on site, but P+R Olympiade and paid parking are nearby. The building is outside the LEZ.

If your crew comes from abroad, our guide to the Limosa declaration for posted workers covers the paperwork. Our guide to contractor accommodation in Belgium compares housing options for shutdown crews.

When Hoost is not the right choice

Hoost is not the right choice for every port job. Is your site in Doel, at BASF or at the far end of the Waasland port? Then you face about 30 km by road each way. A base closer to the site may suit you better, especially for night shifts.

Hoost also does not fit if the crew needs to register an address in Belgium, because address registration is not possible during a stay. We have no parking on site, and we have not confirmed space for large vans in the street. A single booking runs for at most 6 months; longer jobs continue with a new booking. Daily housekeeping is not part of a stay. For other options, read our overview of business stays in Antwerp, or check parking and the LEZ in Antwerp before you drive in.