Port of Rotterdam

The Port of Rotterdam is a hub of international trade, while being an industrial complex of global stature. The port is the gateway to a European market of more than 500 million consumers. Rotterdam is by far the biggest seaport in Europe, with an annual throughput of more than 400 million tonnes of goods. Rotterdam’s strong facets include its good accessibility by water and a comprehensive network of rail and roads leading from the Netherlands to the European hinterland.

Among other projects, one of the most important is the widening of the A15 highway. This highway, the main transport corridor to the Port of Rotterdam, has unsufficient accessibility in the years to come. This is why the project MaVa was initiated. This project involves reconstruction work of approximately 40 kilometers of the major existing highway that serves the Port of Rotterdam. The highway is to be partially extended form three to five lanes.

This necessary construction work (specific: Maasvlakte – Vaanplein) will start at the beginning of 2011. Simultaneous construction work will occur on the Maasvlakte. This expansion of the Port of Rotterdam by land reclamation – Maasvlakte 2 – is currently in process. Rotterdam is creating a new industrial area. Meaning: an increasing growth in distribution activities and traffic from and to the hinterland. The importance of the A15 highway will increase even further when the construction work is completed.