Maasvlakte 2 is being built in phases. The speed at which the Port of Rotterdam Authority acquires customers for Maasvlakte 2 will effectively determine the speed of its construction. Expanding the port in distinct parts will avoid sites being reclaimed from the sea before customers have been acquired for them.

After an international call for tenders the contracting consortium PUMA (Project Uitbreiding Maasvlakte) was contracted to build the first sites. PUMA is a consortium consisting of Koninklijke Boskalis Westminster NV and Van Oord NV and will deliver the first sites for the first customers in 2013. This first phase covers a port area of 700 ha. Following delivery in 2013, PUMA will remain responsible for another five years for maintaining the seawalls, which is an integral part of the contract.