General

In 2002, the densest railway network in the world comprises 3,422 km (2,126 mi) of track operated by the government-controlled Belgian National Railway Co. In addition, Belgium has a regional railway network of 27,950 km (17,367 mi).

In 2004, the road network comprises 150,567 km (93,558 mi) of paved highways, including 1,747 km (1,086 mi) of expressways. All major European highways pass through Belgium.

Inland waterways comprise 2,043 km (1,270 mi) of rivers and canals, and are linked with those of France, Germany, and the Netherlands. In 2001, 1,570 km (976 mi) of these waterways are in regular commercial use. The chief port, Antwerp (one of the world's busiest ports), on the Scheldt River, about 84 km (52 mi) from the sea, handles three-fourths of the country's foreign cargo. Other leading ports are Gent and Zeebrugge. Liège is the third-largest inland river port in Western Europe, after Duisburg, Germany, and Paris, France. In 2001 the Belgian merchant fleet was comprised of 20 vessels, with a total of 31,362 GRT (54,058 DWT). The fleet numbered 101 ships (2.2 million GRT) in 2002, but offshore registry programs and so-called "flags of convenience" have enticed ship owners into foreign registry.

In 2006, there were an estimated 43 airports, 25 with paved runways. Brussels'International Airport, an important international terminus, is served by more than 30 major airlines. In 2001, 8,489,000 passengers flew on scheduled domestic and international flights.

Overview

Airports:
43 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 7 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 16 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 1,561 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 3,536 km
standard gauge: 3,536 km 1.435-m gauge (2,950 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:
total: 150,567 km
paved: 117,442 km (includes 1,747 km of expressways)
unpaved: 33,125 km (2004)

Waterways:
2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2006)

Merchant marine:
total: 68 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,786,089 GRT/6,074,664 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 5, chemical tanker 2, container 9, liquefied gas 16, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 10, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 9 (Denmark 3, France 1, Germany 1, Greece 4)
registered in other countries: 123 (Bahamas 15, Bermuda 3, Cyprus 1, France 6, Gibraltar 3, Greece 16, Hong Kong 4, Liberia 1, Luxembourg 9, Malta 10, Marshall Islands 1, Mozambique 2, Netherlands 2, Netherlands Antilles 1, Panama 11, Portugal 9, Russia 6, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 8, St Kitts and Nevis 1, St Vincent and The Grenadines 9, Vanuatu 4) (2007)

Ports and terminals:
Antwerp, Brussels, Gent, Liege, Oostende, Zeebrugge