Niel (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Matenstraat/’s Herenbaan /Pierstraat/ Koekoekstraat Herenbaan intersection (Niel–Aartselaar) is closed until Dec 12, 2025. Alderman Niels Steven Mattheus urges the following: bus stops are relocated, and full reconstruction continues.
As GVA News reported, the intersection of Matenstraat, Pierstraat, Koekoekstraat and ’s Herenbaan, on the edge of Niel and Aartselaar, in the province of Antwerp, Belgium, is closed until Friday, 12 December 2025.
The road surface has dropped in several places because the concrete slabs under the junction have sunk over time. The site is being opened up and removed so workers can rebuild the base from the ground up. Once the foundation is stable again, the road will be covered with new asphalt.
What is the status of the Matenstraat junction in Niel during roadworks?
Traffic through the area has stopped completely during the project. Cars are being sent along a signed detour via the N177, the roundabout, and the N171A. Cyclists must take the route through Kleine Paepedaelenlaan, where a temporary link brings them back to the rotondes on ’s Herenbaan and nearby roads.
“There will be no access at the intersection during the entire construction period,”
says Niels Steven Mattheus (2845), Alderman for Public Works.
“Please follow the detours in place. Please allow extra travel time.”
Public transport is being affected by the roadworks, and several stops are not in use during this period. The stops at Lode Zielensstraat, Het Geleeg and Parkwijk in Niel are closed, along with the P. Benoitlaan stop in Reet. Replacement stops have been arranged to keep buses running.
Passengers can use Niel Station, Keizerstraat, Hellegat and Walenhof as temporary boarding points. Travellers are asked to follow the updated route information, as journeys may take longer while the works continue.
The renewal of Matenstraat has been underway for more than 2 years, starting in August 2023 with the replacement of old sewer lines and underground cables. In early 2024, crews moved above ground to rebuild footpaths, cycling space and the road base section by section. Larger surface works followed in mid-2024, when long stretches of roadway were stripped and paved again. The final phase began in June 2025.
