On a political level, it comes as no surprise that some parties emerge as losers in this issue. What amazes, though, is the way the injuries are self-inflicted.

Open VLD is an opposition party in the Flemish parliament (and sets out to be one in the federal parliament as well).

As the party had long resisted the tunnel option - which the Flemish government decided on in the end - it switched into opposition mode as soon as the verdict became known. The fact that the Flemish government decided to pass on the extra costs to the city and the port of Antwerp infuriated not just Annick De Ridder, the Open VLD member of parliament from Antwerp, but also party president Alexander De Croo, who started sending out a number of tweets lambasting the Flemish government and Antwerp mayor Patrick Janssens. You have to pay up to save Janssens' face, he told the Antwerp population. His party, he announced, would leave the Antwerp majority right away.

Unfortunately, De Croo had not consulted with his two Antwerp alderman. One of them, Ludo Van Campenhout, had always favoured the tunnel scenario, while the other, Luc Bungeneers, simply preferred to stay alderman. In the end, Open VLD did not leave the Antwerp majority, and the one who lost face was De Croo.

Meanwhile, Van Campenhout, who surprisingly turned out to be one of the most steadfast politicians in the whole Oosterweel saga, has left Open VLD. He will, for now, remain an independent alderman. He has his eyes set on another party, although it is not clear which one. In the meantime, he has produced one of this year's more memorable quotes, leaving all options open: "I have always been a Flemish nationalist. If I was in the N-VA, Bart De Wever would have to hold me back. On the other hand, my grandmother was a socialist..."

One wonders which party will take Van Campenhout on board after such deep political insights.