Holy Week 2026 brings one of the tightest networks of heavy-goods vehicle (HGV) driving bans in Europe, with 15 countries imposing 76 separate restriction windows between 4 and 10 April. Although Belgium itself does not ban trucks on public holidays, its exporters and logistics providers will feel the squeeze as key transit neighbours – France, Germany and Luxembourg – enforce near-round-the-clock prohibitions on Easter Sunday (5 April) and Easter Monday (6 April). The Nakordoni border-monitoring platform, which compiled the restrictions, highlights complete 24-hour shutdowns for HGVs in France and Switzerland, and nationwide bans in Germany from midnight to 22:00 on both holiday days. Austria extends its Tyrol corridor curbs from 07:00 on Holy Saturday, affecting Belgian hauliers heading to Italy or the Western Balkans. Penalties range from €75 in Germany to €5,000 in Austria for non-compliance. Multinational manufacturers operating just-in-time supply chains out of the Port of Antwerp face the greatest risk. Containers that land on Saturday risk missing onward road connections until Monday night, while fresh-food exporters must secure perishable-goods exemptions or switch to rail. Forwarders are advising shippers to preload by Friday noon and book secure parking in Luxembourg or the Dutch border region ahead of the 24-hour closures. The bans coincide with record cross-channel freight demand as UK firms rush Easter deliveries ahead of the 10 April launch of the EU Entry/Exit biometric system. Capacity at Belgian secure truck parks is already over 90 % for the long weekend, according to industry group Febetra. Companies should notify customers of possible 24- to 48-hour delays, revise driver schedules to avoid infringement fines and monitor live border-queue data feeds. While the restrictions end on 10 April, the after-effects – including congestion at French and German rest areas – typically ripple into midweek. HR teams managing posted drivers should check that staff carry ATP certificates for perishable loads and have contingency accommodation in case of unforeseen layovers.
Source: Nakordoni.eu
