The N32 is a national road in

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

that runs through the provinces of

West Flanders West Flanders is the westernmost province of the Flemish Region, in Belgium. It is the only coastal Belgian province, facing the North Sea to the northwest. It has land borders with the Dutch province of Zeeland to the northeast, the Flemis ...

and

East Flanders East Flanders ( ; ; ; ) is a Provinces of Belgium, province of Belgium. It borders (clockwise from the North) the Netherlands, Dutch province of Zeeland and the Belgian provinces of Antwerp (province), Antwerp, Flemish Brabant, Hainaut (provinc ...

. It connects the historic city of

Bruges Bruges ( , ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders, in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is in the northwest of the country, and is the sixth most populous city in the country. The area of the whole city amoun ...

to the city of

Roeselare Roeselare (; ; ) is a Belgian city and municipality in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Roeselare proper and the towns of Beveren, Oekene and Rumbeke. The name of the city is derived from two ...

, continuing south toward

Menen Menen (; ; or ) is a City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities of Belgium, municipality located in the Belgium, Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Menen proper and the towns of Lauwe (Belgium), Lau ...

and the French border at

Halluin Halluin (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Nord (French department), Nord Departments of France, department in northern France. Geography It is located at the north of the Métropole Européenne de Lille, on the Belgium, Belgian border ...

, where it links with France’s road network. The total length of the road is approximately 54 kilometers (33.6 miles).

Route description

The N32 passes through several towns including

Zedelgem Zedelgem (; ) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the villages of Aartrijke, Loppem, Veldegem and Zedelgem proper. On January 1, 2019, Zedelgem had a total population of 22,813. The tota ...

Torhout Torhout (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities of Belgium, municipality located in the Belgium, Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Torhout proper, the villages of Wijnendale and Sint-Henri ...

, and

Lichtervelde Lichtervelde (, ) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises only the town of Lichtervelde. On January 1, 2006 Lichtervelde had a total population of 8,400. The total area is 25.93 km² whic ...

, acting as a regional connector and alternative to major motorways like the E403 and E40. Although it is not classified as a

motorway A controlled-access highway is a type of highway that has been designed for high-speed vehicular traffic, with all traffic flow—ingress and egress—regulated. Common English terms are freeway, motorway, and expressway. Other similar terms ...

, the N32 is an important corridor for local and regional traffic, especially for towns not directly served by the highway network.

Infrastructure and road conditions

The road is paved and generally well-maintained, but conditions vary along its length. Some segments feature designated bike lanes, although many of these are considered narrow or poorly designed, which has led to criticism from cyclists. A 4.2 km section in

(Torhoutsesteenweg) has been fitted with permanent average speed checks as part of a Flemish government initiative to improve traffic safety.{{Cite web, url=https://staging.expatica.com/be/uncategorized/fn-20-new-sections-with-permanent-average-speed-checks-55373/, title=20 new sections with permanent 'average speed' checks, website=Expatica Belgium

History

The precise construction date of the N32 is not documented, but it is widely believed that the road was built or significantly upgraded between the 1960s and 1970s, during a period of major infrastructure expansion in Belgium.Royal Library of Belgium – historic road maps, 1960–1975 Before modernization, the route likely followed or paralleled older regional trade routes that historically linked Bruges to inland towns and the French border.

Economic and regional importance

Despite not being a motorway, the N32 plays an essential role in regional connectivity. It supports local economies by linking industrial zones, residential areas, and commercial districts, and serves as a commuter route between Bruges, Roeselare, and Menen. The road is also a key link for cross-border trade and transportation between Belgium and northern France.

Cycling and environmental considerations

Cyclists have expressed concerns about the limited and sometimes unsafe cycling infrastructure along the N32. With increasing regional emphasis on sustainable transportation, improvements to bike infrastructure may be prioritized in future mobility plans.

Future developments

There are no major reconstruction projects currently announced, but periodic upgrades for traffic management and safety enforcement, such as additional speed control systems, are expected.

References

032 The ROMP is a reduced instruction set computer (RISC) microprocessor designed by IBM in the late 1970s. It is also known as the Research OPD Miniprocessor (after the two IBM divisions that collaborated on its inception, IBM Research and the Offic ...

Year of establishment unknown Transport in West Flanders