Thomas Lucas The capital of Belgium is full of historical sites, alternative activities, fantastic beer, and delicious chocolate. Here, we share options for getting from the Port of Zeebrugge to Brussels by car and public transport when you take a ferry to Belgium.
Zeebrugge to Brussels by car
The quickest way to get from the Port of Zeebrugge to Brussels by car is via the E40, and it will take around an hour and a half. The E40 is the longest European route and connects Calais with the city of Ridder in Kazakhstan, although you’ll be leaving the route long before this! This option will take you past both Bruges and Ghent, so you can always stop off and explore one of these great cities on your way. You’ll find that all of these cities are signposted from early on in your journey, making for a nice, easy drive to Brussels.
Alternatively, you can opt for a drive along the E34 and E19 which will take you past Antwerp. This will take around half an hour longer but is a great option if you’d like to visit the city of Antwerp during your trip.
Car hire in Zeebrugge
If you don’t have a car, or don’t fancy taking your own one to Zeebrugge, you can book an Avis rental car which you can collect at the port. This can be arranged before you travel so you know that your vehicle will be waiting for you when you arrive in Belgium. Choose from a selection of cars, including everything from 4-seaters to people carriers, so that you have all the space you need for your adventure.
Parking in Brussels
When you take a car to Brussels you’ll be pleased to find that there are plenty of parking options. Before you enter the city, there are seven ‘Transit Parking’ options. These car parks were put in place to discourage people from driving their cars into the centre. You can park in six of these: Stalle, Hermann-Debroux, Delta, Roodebeek, Crainhem, and Ryers for free. You’ll then be able to get a tram, bus, or metro directly into the city centre depending on which car park you’ve chosen.
There are also car parks in the city that you can use, plus on-street parking options. You can park on the street for an unlimited time for around €1.50 per hour, apart from on the busy shopping streets where parking is limited to 2 hours at around €5. There are Blue Zones for those who hold a disabled badge too.
Zeebrugge to Brussels by public transport
It will take less than 2 hours to get from the Port of Zeebrugge to Brussels using public transport. The easiest option is to head to the Zeebrugge-Zeesluis tram stop – a 6 minute walk from the terminal – and take the tram towards Kusttram Knokke-Oostende-De Panne. Leave the tram at Blankenberge Station where you can catch a train directly into Brussels.
If you don’t mind walking a little further, you can head to Heist train station which is around 22 minutes from the port by foot. From here, get on the train to Bruges and switch to the Brussels train when you get there.
