Storing a Westfalia van in Antwerp: procedures and cost

I’m planning a 6-month trip to Europe from Canada. I want to ship my Volkswagen Westfalia van from Halifax to Antwerp. Since I’d like to come back the following year, I’m wondering if I can store my van in Antwerp for 6 months at the end of the trip and if it’s worth it price-wise instead of returning by RORO and leaving again. Do I need to clear customs for my van before storing it? Thanks for your answers.

Hello. Normally, to be in order, you need to put it in a free zone—this is the case in most countries, e.g., Panama. Or, you can leave it with a friend, and in that case, customs will seal the vehicle with a deposit guarantee in a bank, e.g., Argentina. And be careful, because in Europe, there’s the eco sticker. Check out the green-zone app. And stupidly, each country has its own system—a campervan owner got fined 150 € on the Antwerp ring road. For France, for example, you need one just to drive through Grenoble, etc. Plus, it depends on pollution peaks with signs at city entrances: green, orange, or red. And the sticker isn’t the same for petrol, diesel, or electric vehicles, or even the year. You can get it at customs or the police station—it’s not very expensive. Safe travels.

Thanks for the info about the eco sticker—I wasn’t aware of it. But what do you mean by "free zone"? We don’t use that term in Quebec. Thanks! !