Frans Tijsmanstunnel

The Frans Tijsmanstunnel is an 820-meter road tunnel running beneath the Canal Dock in Antwerp, linking the eastern bank of the Scheldt River to the R2 motorway network. It functions as a direct underground passage that allows traffic to cross this major waterway without surface-level detours.

The tunnel was completed in 1967 and named after Frans Tijsmans, an Antwerp alderman who died that same year. It emerged during a period when the city was expanding its transportation networks.

The tunnel holds protected monument status, marking it as a significant part of how Antwerp developed its modern transport system. This recognition reflects the city's respect for infrastructure that shaped its growth.

The tunnel is toll-free for vehicles and maintains a speed limit of 100 kilometers per hour. It serves as a standard route for regular traffic moving between regions.

The tunnel connects to the Liefkenshoek tunnel as part of an integrated network supporting traffic between France and the Waasland region. This link makes it a key junction for cross-border routes.