Ports of the Netherlands

The Netherlands is known for being a maritime country for several centuries, thanks to its convenient proximity to the North Sea and the easy access to the hinterland. Today millions of goods are being transhipped at and transferred from the Dutch seaports to inland ports and vice versa.

A total of six seaports can be counted in the Netherlands of which the port of Rotterdam, including the ports of Dordrecht and Moerdijk, is the largest; not only in the Netherlands, but also in Europe and it is even the eleventh port in the world rankings. Located at the mouth of the Rhine and Meuse 442 million tons (2012) of goods are handled and transhipped, of which nearly half consists of liquid bulk (47%). In 2013 Maasvlakte 2 was opened, enlarging the size of the Netherlands with 20 square kilometres and again showing the innovative power ofthe Dutch maritime industry. Following in second place is the port of Amsterdam with a transhipment of 77.058 million ton goods (2012). Together with Beverwijk, IJmuiden and Zaanstad it forms the Amports, the fifth largest port in Europe and even the world biggest gasoline port, it tranships 43.4 million ton liquid bulk every year. Next to this, the port of Amsterdam puts a strong focus on renewable energy, while IJmuiden, in the form of AYOP (Amsterdam IJmuiden Offshore Port), is committed to position and profile the region in the field of offshore operations.

The port of Zeeland, consisting of Terneuzen and Flushing, has a strategic location at the mouth of the Westerschelde, which creates good access to the North Sea and the European hinterland. In 2012, the port had a transhipment of 33.993 million ton. The ports of Delfzijl and Eemshaven form Groningen Seaports which had a transhipment of 8.7 million ton (2012) that mainly consists of dry bulk. Traditionally Groningen has an agriculture environment, therefore agricultural products and food form a big part in this transhipment number.

One of the most historical seaports is Harlingen, where a direct access without delays through bridges or locks is possible. In Harlingen 2.571 million ton of goods are transhipped (2012) that mainly consist of dry bulk. Finally there is seaport Den Helder that forms the connection with offshore platforms and drilling rigs, and has a major supplying position. Next to this, Den Helder is the home port of the Dutch Royal Navy. A total of 356,000 ton goods are transhipped here (2012).

Inland ports

The 389 inland ports in the Netherlands have an important logistic function for the 44,000 kilometres of Dutch waterways. A total of 334 million ton goods are transhipped every year, of which the most pass through the ports of Utrecht, Cuijk and Hengelo that form the three biggest inland ports in bulk transhipment. In the 25 inland container terminals a total of 1.8 million TEU, 30% of the total Dutch container transport is transhipped, of which most in Oosterhout, Born en Den Bosch (2011).

Marinas

The Netherlands has well over 1,000 marinas, which contain more than 20 mooring places. On the total number of marinas 500 are commercially operated, 450 belong to an association and 82 are a public port. Around half the number of these ports can be found in the provinces Utrecht and Noord-Holland.

Anne Kregting