"Today we are clearing the way for international shipping and trade. That's typical of the Netherlands. That's how we became big. With Maasvlakte 2, the Netherlands is throwing the door wide open to the newest generation of container ships. And we offer space for the latest terminals. The port is growing 20% larger, and the container capacity has doubled. Thousands of direct and indirect jobs will be created." With these words, Melanie Schultz van Haegen, Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment, today opened Maasvlakte 2 to shipping.

Koninklijke Boskalis Westminster N.V. (Boskalis) and Van Oord Dredging and Marine Contractors B.V. (Van Oord) deliver the first stage of Maasvlakte 2 to client Port of Rotterdam Authority on 17 April: on schedule, on budget and in accordance with the quality requirements specified.

To make Maasvlakte 2 accessible to shipping, the PUMA contracting consortium (Boskalis and Van Oord) has started excavation of the temporary dam between the Yangtzehaven and the Maasvlakte 2 ports. The contractor will leverage the water's force for the very last part.

The construction of Maasvlakte 2 is still on schedule and the first phase is close to completion. After the ‘back door' was closed on 11 July 2012, contractor PUMA (Boskalis and Van Oord) will open the ‘front door' next weekend. That is when the Yangtzehaven cut-through will start.

The new access requirements for trucks on Maasvlaktes 1 and 2 will take final effect on 1 January 2014.