Maasvlakte 2 gets the nod

Port of Rotterdam ceo Willem Scholten: “This an extremely important agreement. The expansion will give businesses the opportunity to grow in Rotterdam. Maasvlakte 2 will be an excellent location. Right on the sea, and with good hinterland connections.

Construction can start in 2006 and the first sites will be available for clients in 2010. That will be in time – in conjunction with the current increase in capacity on Maasvlakte 1 – to accommodate the ongoing growth in Rotterdam.”

Maasvlakte 2 will be constructed in the North Sea, immediately to the west of the current Rotterdam port area.

It consists of 1000 ha of commercial sites, for container handling, chemicals and distribution. Maasvlakte 2 will be able to welcome the largest of ships and will increase the port area by 20%.

The two other components of the massive project are the creation of a new 750 ha area around Rotterdam, devoted to nature and recreation, and a number of projects geared to making more intensive use of the existing space in Rotterdam’s port area.

In the agreement, the State, the Municipality of Rotterdam, the Province of South-Holland, Rotterdam Metropolitan Area and Port of Rotterdam have reached an understanding on how all three projects will be financed. Investments in the new nature and recreation area, the projects in the existing port area and the compensation for damage to nature caused by the construction of Maasvlakte 2 total almost €500m.