Context
The chart above shows the evolution of street network disconnectedness of the most connected and most disconnected cities in Belgium, for both new street additions (left) and the aggregate street network (right).
Belgium in context: Street-network sprawl of new development
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Belgium rose steadily. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Belgium, we can consider three of its most populous regions: Vlaanderen, Bruxelles and Wallonie. Out of the three regions, Bruxelles does not follow the same trend as the country. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Bruxelles followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase.
How do development practices in Belgium fare in comparison to others in the world? Most recently in 2006-2020, street construction in Belgium was the 63rd-most disconnected out of the 179 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other countries in the world, street construction in Belgium has become more connected. Belgium ranked 28th in 1975, 38th in 1976-1990, 66th in 1991-2005 and 63rd in 2006-2020.
The largest city in Belgium is Brussels, with a population of 1359200 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Brussels as of 2020, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 1.55, which is very well-connected. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Brussels peaked in 1991-2005.
Belgium in context: Aggregate street-network sprawl
As of 2020, the city with the most disconnected street network in Belgium is Roeselare with an SNDi of 2.66, which is relatively well-connected. Conversely, the most connected city is Brussels with an SNDi of 1.55, which is very well-connected. See these two cities’ trends in the above graph, or dive deeper into each: Brussels, Roeselare.
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Belgium rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Belgium, we can consider three of its most populous regions: Vlaanderen, Bruxelles and Wallonie. Disconnectivity in the most populous cities in Belgium follow the same country trend.
To date, Belgium is the 33rd-most disconnected out of the 179 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other countries in the world, the street network in Belgium has become more connected. Belgium ranked 28th in 1975, 28th in 1976-1990, 33rd in 1991-2005 and 33rd in 2006-2020.
The largest city in Belgium is Brussels, with a population of 1359200 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Brussels as of 2020, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 1.55, which is very well-connected. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Brussels rose steadily.