Crossing the Femern Belt in 7 minutes will make Europe much closer connected

The Fehmarn Belt Tunnel: Europe’s undersea engineering marvel reshaping Northern European tourism

When the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel opens in 2029, it will mark the end of a more than century-long quest to connect Denmark directly with Germany—and the beginning of a transportation revolution that will fundamentally reshape tourism and travel patterns across Northern Europe. This isn’t just another infrastructure project. It’s the world’s longest combined road and rail immersed tunnel, Denmark’s largest-ever infrastructure investment, and a feat of engineering that will slash a tedious 45-minute ferry crossing down to a seamless seven-minute train journey or ten-minute drive.

For the Danish island of Lolland, Denmark´s fifth largest island, long relegated to the periphery of European connectivity, the tunnel represents nothing less than a complete transformation from quiet backwater to international crossroads. For millions of Danes accustomed to the long, circuitous route through Jutland to reach Germany, it promises unprecedented convenience. And for Northern Europe’s tourism industry, it heralds a new era of accessibility that could see 10 million German tourists considering Danish destinations they’d previously dismissed as too remote.

Places to visit in Denmark from famous Copenhagen to Legoland

Places to visit in Denmark from famous Copenhagen to Legoland

A direct link between continents

The Fehmarn Belt—that 18-kilometer stretch of Baltic Sea water separating the Danish island of Lolland from Germany’s Fehmarn island—has been a barrier for far too long. Currently, reaching Germany from Copenhagen requires either taking a ferry across the belt or making a massive 160-kilometer detour west through the entirety of Denmark via Jutland. This geographical quirk has effectively turned what should be a straightforward north-south journey into an exhausting ordeal.

The Trans-European Transport Network’s Scandinavian-Mediterranean Corridor stretches an impressive 5,000 kilometers from Finland’s frozen tundra all the way to Malta in the Mediterranean. It includes some of Europe’s most ambitious engineering projects—the Brenner Base Tunnel through the Alps, the Great Belt Bridge across Danish waters, the iconic Øresund Bridge connecting Copenhagen with Sweden. Yet this one relatively modest stretch of water in the Baltic Sea has remained a stubborn bottleneck, forcing a detour the size of an entire country.

The Fehmarn Belt Tunnel will finally complete this vital artery. Once operational, trains will hurtle through at speeds up to 200 km/h, cutting the journey between Hamburg and Copenhagen from nearly five hours down to just two and a half hours. Motorists will save an hour each way compared to the current ferry service, while freight companies will enjoy a direct route that eliminates the weather-dependent ferry schedules that have plagued logistics for decades.

First of its kind: the immersed tunnel solution

What makes the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel genuinely groundbreaking isn’t just its length—though at 18 kilometers, it will be the longest immersed tunnel ever constructed, dwarfing even China’s 6.75-kilometer Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge tunnel. It’s the sheer audacity of the engineering solution itself.

Initially, planners envisioned a bridge. The proposed design called for three massive cable-stayed spans with pylons nearly 300 meters tall—taller than the Eiffel Tower—with vertical clearance of 65 meters above sea level to allow ocean-going vessels to pass beneath. It would have been spectacular. It also would have been pushing the absolute limits of bridge engineering technology for a combined road and rail crossing of this length, with spans exceeding 700 meters each. Factor in the Baltic Sea’s poor soil conditions, depths up to 25 meters where foundations would need to be sunk, and a busy shipping lane that couldn’t be disrupted, and the bridge option began to look like an engineer’s nightmare.

A traditional bored tunnel—the kind used for projects like London’s Elizabeth Line—presented its own challenges. Tunnel boring machines work beautifully for underground railways in cities, but the Fehmarn Belt required something far more complex: a four-lane motorway, two electrified railway tracks, and maintenance tunnels. That would mean boring at least five separate tunnels at astronomical cost. Worse, trains struggle on steep gradients, and a bored tunnel deep beneath the seabed would require long approach ramps that simply weren’t practical.

Enter the immersed tunnel—a solution that combines the best of both worlds. Rather than boring through bedrock or building pylons in the sea, this method involves constructing massive concrete tunnel sections on land, floating them out to sea, and carefully lowering them into a prepared trench on the seabed. It’s a technique that’s been used before, but never at this scale.

The Fehmarn Belt Tunnel will consist of 89 colossal elements: 79 standard sections, each 217 meters long, 42 meters wide, and weighing an almost incomprehensible 73,000 tonnes. An additional 10 special elements, which are wider and higher with a lower deck to house technical equipment and maintenance access, will be positioned approximately every 1.8 kilometers along the tunnel’s length.

On Lolland, a purpose-built factory—currently the world’s largest facility for concrete tunnel element production—casts these behemoths with millimeter precision. Each element is constructed in production halls, made watertight, then floated out on barges to its designated position. There, it’s carefully lowered with 15-millimeter precision to connect seamlessly with the previous section at a depth of 40 meters below sea level. The entire operation represents a choreography of engineering precision on a scale rarely attempted.

Sealing these elements is equally critical. Trelleborg, the global leader in tunnel sealing systems, is supplying advanced Gina gaskets and Omega seals designed to handle intense hydrostatic loads and environmental pressures—seismic activity, soil settlement, temperature variations—with a product life expectancy of 120 years and virtually no maintenance required.

Construction progress and timelines

Construction officially began on January 1, 2021, on the Danish side, with German work commencing later that year. As of early 2026, the project is well underway, though not without challenges that have adjusted original timelines.

The dredging phase alone required removing 15 million cubic meters of soil and sand from the seabed—a massive undertaking completed by Dutch specialists Boskalis and Van Oord. That excavated material hasn’t gone to waste; it’s been used to create approximately 300 hectares of new reclaimed land around the construction sites.

The tunnel factory on Lolland started producing elements in 2022, with the first sections installed in 2023. By early 2025, construction teams had completed several standard elements and begun the complex task of positioning them underwater. According to the project timeline, tunnel element production will continue through the end of 2026, with installation and finishing work extending through 2028.

The tunnel itself is expected to open in 2029—though German delays with hinterland railway connections may affect the complete rail service timeline. Germany is constructing 88 kilometers of new and upgraded railway from Lübeck to Puttgarden, 55 kilometers of which represents entirely new track, along with extensive noise protection measures. Additionally, a new tunnel is being built through Fehmarn Sound to replace the aging Fehmarn Sound Bridge, which planners deemed unfit for the increased traffic volumes the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel will bring.

The entire project represents an investment of approximately €7.4 billion, with Denmark bearing the lion’s share of costs for the tunnel itself, while Germany contributes roughly €800 million for motorway connections and several billion more for rail infrastructure on its side.

Best places to visit in Germany

Best places to visit in Germany

Visiting the construction sites: a front-row seat to engineering history

One of the most remarkable aspects of the Fehmarn Belt project is how accessible it is to the public. Rather than hiding behind fences and security barriers, both Denmark and Germany have embraced the opportunity to let people witness this historic construction firsthand.

On the Danish side in Rødbyhavn on Lolland, the crown jewel is “Pilen” (The Arrow)—a spectacular 217-meter-long viewing platform that opened at the beginning of 2025. Named after the length of a single tunnel element, this architectural wonder rises gradually like a pointed ramp extending out over the reclaimed land, reaching 24 meters at its highest point. From this vantage, visitors get an unobstructed view of the entire construction site, including the tunnel element factory, the working harbor, and the area where completed elements are floated out to their final positions.

The Arrow isn’t just functional—it’s been designed as an experience in itself, built with sustainability in mind using local surplus soil from the tunnel excavation and recycled steel. The design takes inspiration from the coastal landscape, with green vegetation supporting local biodiversity. On clear days, visitors can see across the Fehmarn Belt all the way to the German construction site on Fehmarn island.

Adjacent to the construction site, an exhibition center in Rødbyhavn provides comprehensive insights into all aspects of the project through photos, detailed models, and films in English, Danish, and German. There’s also an outdoor playground with tables and benches, making it a family-friendly destination. The center is open year-round, though it closes for the Christmas and New Year holidays. Guided tours for groups of more than 10 people must be booked at least four weeks in advance.

On the German side in Burg on Fehmarn island, a similar information center offers exhibits and a children’s corner with age-appropriate learning materials. A viewing platform constructed from shipping containers provides a six-meter-high vantage point overlooking the German tunnel construction site, complete with binoculars and information boards explaining the construction process. This facility opened in 2024 and has quickly become one of Fehmarn’s most popular new attractions.

For those seeking an even more immersive experience, a unique “School Bus” tour operates between the Danish and German construction sites, allowing visitors to see both sides of this international project in a single excursion. The classic American school bus has become something of a local icon, ferrying curious tourists and engineering enthusiasts across the border.

Additionally, Femern A/S maintains multiple webcam livestreams that allow people from anywhere in the world to watch construction progress in real-time via YouTube, bringing this massive undertaking into living rooms across the globe.

The Danish perspective: transforming Lolland from periphery to gateway

For Danes, the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel represents far more than just another route to Germany. It’s a fundamental reimagining of Denmark’s place in Europe and a particular revolution for the island of Lolland.

Historically, Lolland has been at Denmark’s geographical and economic margins—a rural agricultural region with relatively few economic opportunities, suffering from population decline and limited connectivity to major urban centers. The tunnel changes everything. Suddenly, Lolland isn’t at the edge of Denmark looking outward; it’s at the center of a new Northern European economic region, with direct connections to Germany’s economic powerhouses of Hamburg and Berlin.

The construction phase alone has already brought transformative changes. Thousands of jobs have been created, drawing workers from across Denmark and internationally. The mayor of Lolland Municipality, Holger Schou Rasmussen, has spoken enthusiastically about how the project has opened new opportunities, with plans for a major business park on land behind the tunnel element factory. This development could become a center for Denmark’s green transition, attracting companies focused on sustainable technologies and logistics.

The Danish government has recognized the tourism potential, allocating DKK 10.5 million specifically to ensure the tunnel opening attracts international tourists, particularly from Germany and Poland. This represents a strategic investment in positioning Lolland and the surrounding region as an international tourism destination rather than merely a transit point.

But perhaps the most significant change will be psychological. For generations, traveling from Copenhagen to Germany meant either a lengthy ferry wait or a massive detour through Jutland. The tunnel will make Germany feel genuinely close—a quick afternoon drive rather than a day-long expedition. This proximity will inevitably strengthen cultural and economic ties between the two nations, making cross-border shopping trips, weekend getaways, and business meetings far more spontaneous and accessible.

Tourism revolution: 10 million Germans eyeing Danish destinations

From a Danish tourism perspective, the numbers are staggering. According to analysis by the tourism alliance SMA-Z, approximately 10 million Germans currently have Zealand, Lolland-Falster, and Møn on their radar for holidays within the next three years. More remarkably, 52% of travel-inclined Germans say the tunnel significantly increases their likelihood of visiting eastern Denmark—meaning over 5 million potential German tourists become substantially more likely to visit once the tunnel opens in 2029.

The research reveals that 43% of respondents from Berlin indicate they’re likely to travel to Zealand and Lolland-Falster—a dramatic shift for a region that has traditionally focused almost exclusively on domestic Danish tourism. Calculations suggest the number of international overnight stays in the Zealand region will increase by more than 500,000 annually solely due to improved accessibility.

This represents nothing less than a tourism paradigm shift. Lindy Kjøller, Destination Manager at Visit Lolland-Falster, explains: “For many years, we have primarily focused on Danish visitors in Zealand, Lolland-Falster, and Møn because they are the majority. But in a few years, this could turn completely around, with German tourists filling vacation homes and hotel beds.”

This transformation brings both opportunities and challenges. On the positive side, German tourists tend to travel throughout more of the year rather than clustering in traditional summer vacation periods, potentially solving one of Danish tourism’s longstanding problems—dramatic seasonal fluctuations with infrastructure sitting empty for much of the year.

However, the influx also presents significant challenges. Survey data shows that 46% of German tourists consider it important that staff understand and speak German, while 55% prefer brochures, maps, and guides in their native language. This means tourism businesses across Lolland, Falster, Møn, and Zealand will need to rapidly adapt—hiring German-speaking staff, translating materials, and adjusting service offerings to German preferences and expectations.

Infrastructure represents another pressing concern. While Germans traditionally favor Danish holiday homes, city dwellers from Berlin and Hamburg often prefer hotel accommodations, and eastern Denmark currently has too few hotels to meet projected demand. There’s also a shortage of vacation rental properties. The tourism industry will need to invest heavily in expanded accommodation capacity to capture this opportunity fully.

The labor market presents both challenge and opportunity. Tourism businesses frequently struggle to find qualified workers, but the tunnel will make it feasible to attract employees from a much larger geographical area, potentially drawing workers from northern Germany who could live on one side of the tunnel and work on the other.

Beyond sheer numbers, the tunnel is likely to shift the types of tourists visiting Denmark. Currently, German tourists visiting Denmark tend to be longer-stay visitors seeking beach holidays in Jutland or specific resort destinations. The tunnel enables shorter, more spontaneous trips—weekend getaways, shopping excursions, city breaks in Copenhagen, cultural tourism across Zealand. This diversification could strengthen Denmark’s tourism economy by reducing dependence on traditional summer beach tourism.

Danes heading south: the German shopping and travel boom

The tourism transformation works both ways. For Danish motorists, the tunnel creates unprecedented access to Germany that will likely reshape Danish travel and shopping patterns dramatically.

Currently, the journey from Copenhagen to Hamburg requires either taking the ferry (with all the associated waiting, boarding, and schedule dependence) or the massive detour through Jutland—a difference of 160 kilometers. Many Danes simply don’t bother with regular trips to Germany because of this barrier. The tunnel changes that calculation entirely.

Suddenly, Hamburg becomes just 2.5 hours from Copenhagen by train, or a comfortable three-hour drive. Berlin is within easy reach for a weekend trip. The Baltic Sea resort town of Lübeck, with its UNESCO World Heritage old town, becomes an afternoon excursion. German shopping—particularly for items like alcohol, candy, and groceries that are significantly cheaper south of the border—transitions from occasional expedition to routine possibility.

This will likely lead to a substantial increase in Danish cross-border shopping, much as Swedes currently cross the Øresund Bridge to shop in Copenhagen’s stores. German retailers in border regions are already preparing for this influx, while Danish border retailers and the ferry company Scandlines face an uncertain future as their business model based on the current ferry route becomes obsolete.

For Danish holiday-makers, entirely new travel patterns become feasible. The German Baltic coast, with its sandy beaches and charming resort towns, becomes easily accessible. Driving to Southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland, or even Italy becomes far more attractive when you can shave two hours off each direction. The tunnel effectively brings all of Central and Southern Europe substantially closer to Denmark.

The broader impact on Northern European tourism is equally significant. The tunnel will encourage not just Danish-German movement but trans-Scandinavian travel. Swedes and Norwegians will find it far easier to drive to Germany and beyond. Germans will discover that Scandinavia isn’t as remote as they thought. Tour operators are already developing new itineraries that wouldn’t have made logistical sense before the tunnel—multi-country Baltic tours, Scandinavian grand tours, Hamburg-Copenhagen-Stockholm triangular routes.

Environmental and economic dimensions

Beyond tourism, the tunnel’s impact ripples across multiple dimensions. From an environmental perspective, the fixed link is designed as a greener alternative to ferry crossings and long-distance trucking routes. The electrified rail line will enable freight to shift from road to rail, while the tunnel itself will operate on renewable energy. By allowing traffic to use the shortest, most direct route, CO2 emissions should decrease substantially compared to current ferry operations and the lengthy Jutland detour.

The economic benefits extend well beyond construction employment. The tunnel sits at the heart of the Scandinavian-Mediterranean TEN-T Corridor, one of Europe’s most strategically important freight routes. Once operational, 68 freight trains per day will use the tunnel, joined by another 30 freight trains from the port of Travemünde heading toward Italy. This represents a fundamental strengthening of European north-south trade infrastructure, with cost-benefit analyses projecting positive socio-economic returns between 4.1% and 4.7% when considering direct and indirect effects.

For businesses, the improved connectivity opens new market opportunities on both sides of the border. Danish companies gain easier access to German markets, while German firms find Denmark and Scandinavia suddenly far more accessible. The tunnel is expected to stimulate regional economic development, attract new companies to the area, and create a more integrated cross-border labor market.

A symbol of European integration

Perhaps most fundamentally, the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel represents a powerful symbol of European cooperation and integration. In an era when European unity often seems fragile, this Danish-German partnership demonstrates what’s possible when nations commit to shared infrastructure that benefits the entire continent.

The state treaty signed in 2008 between Denmark and Germany established an unusual arrangement: Denmark would finance, construct, and operate the tunnel itself, recouping costs through tolls, while Germany would handle its own hinterland connections. This division of responsibility has enabled the project to move forward despite different political and budgetary priorities on each side.

The European Commission has recognized the tunnel’s continental significance, contributing over €1.3 billion toward design and construction costs through its Connecting Europe funding facility. The tunnel has been designated a priority project, reflecting its role in completing crucial gaps in the Trans-European Transport Network.

As work continues through 2026 and beyond, the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel stands as a testament to engineering ambition, international cooperation, and long-term strategic thinking. When the first trains and cars pass through in 2029, they’ll be traveling through more than just a tunnel beneath the Baltic Sea. They’ll be traversing a new connection between nations, regions, and continents—a physical embodiment of the idea that geographical barriers can be overcome when vision, technology, and determination converge.