On Monday morning, October 6, 2025, at 04:00 AM, the new A16 Rotterdam highway towards Dordrecht/Breda was opened. After more than six years of construction, road traffic can now use the new connection on the northern edge of Rotterdam. On October 27, the direction towards Delft/Den Haag will also open.
Accompanied by two vehicles from Rijkswaterstaat, Minister Robert Tieman of Infrastructure and Water Management, Director-General Martin Wijnen of Rijkswaterstaat, and neighbor of the A16 Rotterdam, Mrs. Nel Overes, were the first to drive over the new highway and through the Rottemerentunnel. The 90-year-old Nel Overes did so in a classic car from her birth year.
Minister Robert Tieman of Infrastructure and Water Management: ‘With the opening of the A16 Rotterdam, a long-held wish in this region is being fulfilled. Two bottlenecks from the traffic jam top 10 are being addressed, and road users will really notice this difference soon. That’s what we’re doing it for.’
Better Accessibility in the Rotterdam Region
The new connection contributes to better traffic flow in the Rotterdam and Lansingerland regions and improves livability in the Rotterdam neighborhoods of Hillegersberg, Terbregge, Ommoord, and Overschie.
It is expected that traffic jam problems on the A13 near Overschie and the A20 between Kleinpolderplein and Terbregseplein will be significantly reduced.
Traffic will need to get used to the new situation. As traffic will be redistributed over the roads, there may be more congestion on access roads leading to the connections with the A16 Rotterdam.
October 27: A16 Rotterdam towards The Hague Open
The work is not completely finished yet. On Monday morning, October 27, at 05:00 AM, the northern direction of the A16 Rotterdam will also open. Prior to this moment, both the A13 and the A16 in the northern direction will be closed from Friday evening to make the connection with the A16 Rotterdam. The N209 towards Rotterdam The Hague Airport will also be closed at that time.
Works in the Rotterdam Region
Good infrastructure gives us freedom of movement. We are building new lanes or roads, but in the coming years, we will mainly focus on renewing and replacing existing roads, tunnels, bridges, and viaducts, also in the Rotterdam region. Much of our infrastructure is already quite old and was built in the 1950s and 1960s.
Meanwhile, we have many more residents, traffic is more intense, and vehicles are heavier. We also need to consider extreme weather, such as heat, flooding, or drought.
This renewal will require a lot of work in the coming years. Unfortunately, this will not be without inconvenience and disruption. For a complete overview, visit the page A16: major maintenance between Rotterdam and Ridderkerk. Or visit the website of Zuid-Holland Accessible for inspiration on smarter and more sustainable travel.
Employers or logistics entrepreneurs can also find tips here about mobility, regulations, and more efficient logistics.
Staying in Motion
Ultimately, we do it for a reason: a well-maintained infrastructure gives us freedom of movement. This is crucial for work, study, trade, vacations, family visits, and supplying our shops and hospitals. By addressing our roads, viaducts, tunnels, and bridges, we are and remain a strong country that can move quickly and safely.
