The Netherlands plans to build a 15-hectare Ministry of Defence terminal at Maasvlakte II to handle military cargo and support amphibious exercises.
The terminal will handle transshipment and transit of military cargo as part of the National Program Space for Defence.
On 19 December, the cabinet confirmed preferred locations for various Defence activities in the Netherlands, including the Maasvlakte 2 terminal and an area for occasional amphibious exercises on the beach.
Rising global security concerns have prompted the Netherlands to expand its armed forces, creating a need for additional space and guaranteed terminal capacity for military cargo, including equipment and ammunition.
READ: Rotterdam greenlights new Maasvlakte Zuid rail yard
Cargo may be transported to or from the Netherlands under NATO arrangements, with onward movement by road, rail, or inland shipping.
The new terminal will include a rail connection, but no ammunition storage will be built. The Ministry of Defence will continue to use the ports of Vlissingen and Eemshaven for military transport.
The ministry also plans to conduct amphibious exercises at Maasvlakte II, practising the landing of personnel and equipment. These exercises will take place at four locations across the Netherlands.
The Port Authority of Rotterdam supports the plans and is cooperating in their preparation and implementation.
The port expects terminal construction to take several years.
For more information:
Port of Rotterdam – https://www.portofrotterdam.com/en
Maasvlakte II – https://www.portofrotterdam.com/en/building-port/safe-port/flood-risk-management/maasvlakte
