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The most modern infrastructure project in the world.
The Fehmarnbelt is a multi-purpose tunnel comprising two highway lanes and two electrified railway lines, enabling vehicles and trains to travel quickly between the two countries. At 18 km long, while shorter than the Channel Tunnel (50 km), the Fehmarnbelt surpasses it in technology and scale of construction. Upon completion, it will be the world's longest combined-use tunnel and also hold the record for the longest submerged tunnel.
The Fehmarnbelt tunnel will include two railway lines and two two-lane highways running under the Baltic Sea.
Unlike the Channel Tunnel, which was dug underground, the Fehmarnbelt uses a submerged tunnel construction method. Prefabricated concrete tunnel sections are manufactured in a factory, then transported to sea and placed in a trench dug on the seabed before being buried.
Fehmarnbelt uses a method of constructing submerged tunnels.
In February 2025, the first sections of the tunnel rolled off the assembly line at the Rødbyhavn plant in Denmark, marking a significant milestone in the project. The construction is expected to be completed in 2029 at an estimated total cost of approximately €7.4 billion ($7.7 billion).
Promoting tourism between Northern and Central Europe.
Not only does the Fehmarnbelt shorten travel time from Denmark to Germany from 45 minutes to just 7 minutes by train and 10 minutes by car, but it also brings enormous benefits to the region's tourism industry.
Lolland Island (Denmark) – where the tunnel begins – is famous for its pristine natural landscapes, quaint towns, and the Knuthenborg Safari Park. Meanwhile, on the other side of the tunnel, Fehmarn Island (Germany) is a paradise for water sports enthusiasts with its long beaches, campsites, and popular surfing center.
Lolland Island (Denmark)...
... and Fehmarn Island (Germany) are the two ends of the tunnel.
Beyond these two islands, the Fehmarnbelt also facilitates a rapid connection between Copenhagen (Denmark) and Hamburg (Germany) – two major tourist and cultural centers of Europe. With a distance of 280 km, travel between the two cities by rail currently takes nearly 5 hours, but once the tunnel is completed, this time will be reduced to approximately 2.5 hours, opening up opportunities for cross-border travel between Northern and Central Europe.
This project is also expected to increase the number of international tourists to both Denmark and Germany, especially from neighboring countries such as Sweden, Norway, and Poland. Thanks to the modern railway network, tourists can easily access popular destinations such as Rosenborg Castle (Denmark), the old town of Lübeck (Germany), or the beautiful beaches along the Baltic Sea.
The project is expected to increase the number of international tourists visiting both Denmark and Germany.
The Fehmarnbelt is not just a transportation project, but also a symbol of the strong connectivity between European countries. This project is part of the European Union's overall infrastructure development strategy, helping to strengthen economic, trade, and tourism links in the region. Given its strategic importance, the Fehmarnbelt tunnel is expected to become one of the vital transportation arteries, contributing to bringing Europe closer together, both geographically and in terms of development opportunities.
