Meetjesland (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Kaprijke, Assenede, and Sint-Laureins want one central exit on the E34 motorway between Zelzate and Eeklo. Mayor Trees Van Eykeren says it’s vital for safety, local access, emergency services, and economic growth
As VRT News reported, Assenede, Kaprijke, and Sint Laureins are all worried. They are all in the north of Meetjesland, a region in the province of East Flanders, Belgium, and they all use the E34. They want 1 central exit on the E34 motorway between Zelzate and Eeklo.
Between Zelzate and Eeklo, this road is only an expressway. It still has traffic lights and flat crossroads. It will become a motorway. Officials mentioned that the change should let cars move faster and more smoothly. The crossroads will be closed. The 3 towns say that blocking those old entries without a new one in the middle will affect their people. They ask for one central exit that everyone can reach.
They mentioned that without it, drivers must turn onto smaller village streets. Those roads will get more cars, more noise, and more danger. Trips will take longer. Ambulances, fire trucks, farmers, and shop owners may lose precious minutes. Jobs and local trade could suffer.
Mayor Trees Van Eykeren of Kaprijke warns that this is not only her town’s fight. She says the whole region will feel the blow if the plan skips the new exit. She mentioned that the request is clear: keep the upgrade, keep safety, but also keep everyday life running by adding one well placed exit for northern Meetjesland.
What happens to Meetjesland if the E34 lacks a central exit?
Mayor Trees Van Eykeren from Kaprijke, who belongs to the local party Lokaal Sterk, speaks out for a single new exit on the E34. She says the issue is much bigger than her town. She urges people to “look wider” and notice how the whole region will suffer if the road upgrade closes today’s crossroads without adding a new entry point.
Kaprijke, Assenede, and Sint Laureins do not ask for many exits. They want one well-placed, central exit that lets drivers reach the motorway quickly and safely. The mayors believe this move will keep traffic flowing, help local businesses, and prevent extra danger on village streets.
They add that farms, shops, and emergency services depend on fast, clear routes. As the Flemish authorities turn the expressway into a full motorway, the 3 councils demand firm promises that the needs of their rural residents will stay at the centre of the plan.
The towns of Kaprijke, Assenede, and Sint-Laureins are worried about what will happen if the E34 becomes a motorway without adding a full central exit. They say this exit is not just something extra; it is badly needed.
The mayors say that traffic needs good places to enter and leave the motorway, or else their towns will turn into shortcuts for heavy traffic. That is why they are also asking for extra roads to be built next to the E34.
Mayor Trees Van Eykeren says the issue is very important. She explains that good roads are not just about traffic. They help towns grow and stay connected.
“Mobility is really not a detail. It decides if a town moves forward or falls behind,”
She says.
She gives a clear example. A motorway without an exit in Kaprijke is like a house without a front door. She mentioned that the house may be strong, but it is not useful if people cannot enter or leave. The towns are also worried about their local economy. Without a nearby exit, shops may lose customers.
They mentioned that people may feel cut off. These can affect jobs and growth in the north of Meetjesland. The mayors all agree. The motorway upgrade must include good access for their towns. They want roads that keep people safe and help their communities stay strong.
