Between city and North Sea
Rotterdam is the most important port in Europe. The port and industrial area stretches from the city to the North Sea and

covers approximately 5000 hectares of industrial sites. That is not static information. In response to the constant, massive demand from trade and industry, the port has continued to evolve since the Second World War. In the 1950s, for example, the Botlek was constructed, in de 1960s the Europoort and in the 1970s the Maasvlakte. (click on the image to start an animation about the development of the port)

Deepsea-related sectors

The port of Rotterdam is again reaching its limits in terms of space. In the existing port and industrial area, there is hardly any room left for new companies and existing clients wishing to expand. If Rotterdam wants to carry on developing, then extra space must be created. The deepsea-related container sector, the chemical industry and distribution parks are in particular need of space. This is where the opportunities lie. The container ships of the future will have a deeper draught than existing ports will be able to accommodate. By responding to this with a 20-metre deep harbour directly on the sea, Rotterdam guarantees itself a unique position in the market. (click on the image to start an animation)   

Economic significance
The port of Rotterdam, providing direct employment for around 60,000 people, is very important for the region. The contribution it makes to the Dutch economy as a whole is much greater still. For this reason, it is very important to invest in the future of the port. In 2000, the direct gross added value of the port and industrial area was € 6 billion, or 1.4 % of the Dutch Gross National Product. Maasvlakte 2 focuses quite significantly on container throughput. In 2006, the amount of containers handled increased by 4.5 % to 9.7 million TEU. (In 2005 a good 13 %). The construction of Maasvlakte 2 is thus not only important for the port, but also for the Dutch economy. (klik on the image to start an animation)

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