A4 motorway (Netherlands)

A4 motorway (Netherlands). The A4 is a major north–south motorway in the Netherlands, forming a crucial part of the national highway network. It connects the Belgian border near Nieuw-Vossemeer with the capital city of Amsterdam, passing through key regions including West Brabant, the Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague, and the Green Heart. The motorway is a vital corridor for international traffic between the Port of Rotterdam and Belgium, as well as for domestic commuters and freight transport.

Route description

Beginning at the Belgian border, the A4 motorway starts at the interchange with the Belgian A12 near Nieuw-Vossemeer. It heads north, intersecting with the A58 near Bergen op Zoom and passing west of the historic city of Dordrecht. The route then traverses the Oude Maas river and enters the Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague, where it has a major interchange with the A15 serving the Port of Rotterdam. Continuing north, it skirts the western edge of The Hague, connecting with the A13 near Delft and the A44 near Leiden. The final segment cuts through the protected Green Heart area, bridging the Ringvaart before terminating at its junction with the A10 ring road around Amsterdam.

History

The first plans for the A4 corridor emerged in the 1960s as part of the national Rijkswegenplan to improve connections between Rotterdam, The Hague, and Amsterdam. The earliest opened section was between Delft and The Hague in the 1970s. A significant milestone was the completion of the Benelux Tunnel under the Oude Maas in 1975, linking the Hoogvliet and Pernis districts. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, sections were extended southward towards Bergen op Zoom and northward from Leiden. The challenging passage through the Green Heart was a subject of prolonged debate, delaying the final connection between Leiden and Amsterdam for decades. The last major gap in the route was finally closed with the opening of the Schiphol–Amsterdam–Almere project segment in 2019.

Future developments

Several projects aim to increase the capacity and sustainability of the A4 motorway. The most prominent is the planned widening of the section between the A13 interchange at Delft and the A44 interchange near Leiden, which experiences severe congestion. This project, known as the A4 Delft–Schiedam expansion, may involve additional lanes or dynamic traffic management systems. There are also ongoing studies into implementing smart highway technologies, such as variable speed limits and dedicated lanes for electric vehicles, along congested stretches. Furthermore, integration with the national Programma Hoogfrequent Spoorvervoer for better public transport links along the corridor is under consideration to reduce overall traffic volumes.

Junctions and interchanges

The A4 features numerous major interchanges with other motorways and key regional roads. From south to north, primary junctions include the connection with the A58 at Bergen op Zoom (junction 30) and the complex Knooppunt Ridderkerk with the A15 (junction 22). Near The Hague, it meets the A13 at Knooppunt Ypenburg (junction 12) and the A44 at Knooppunt Burgerveen (junction 7). Other significant interchanges are Knooppunt De Nieuwe Meer with the A10 (junction 2) in Amsterdam and the terminus at the Belgian border with the Belgian A12. The motorway also provides access to major urban centers like Rotterdam, Delft, and Leiden via secondary connections.

See also

* Rijkswaterstaat * List of motorways in the Netherlands * European route E19 * European route E25 * Tunnel under the North Sea Canal

Category:Motorways in the Netherlands Category:Transport in North Brabant Category:Transport in South Holland Category:Transport in North Holland