Europe’s biggest port that sees 140,000 ships every year | World | News
Once the world’s most dense harbor, from 1962 to 2004, the global crown was overcome by the port of Singapore. Today, the port of Shanghai has taken the best global point, but Rotterdam continues not only for the Netherlands, but for the whole European economy. Strategically located in the mouth of the Ren-Meuse-Scheldt River Delta in the North Sea, Rotterdam serves Europe as a door and is the largest port on the continent with its ability to fit more than 13,000 football fields.
The port of Rotterdam covers an area of approximately 30,888 acres and extends from a distance of about 26 miles and makes it the largest port on the continent. Directly employs 1,400 people and produces more than 52.4 billion added value for the Dutch economy.
As an external EU customs limit, the goods entering the large port can move freely in the Schengen region after cleansing, which makes it a preferred entry point especially for international burden from East Asia. Each year, the port works of approximately 14.8 million twenty meters equivalent unit (TEU).
For this reason, the harbor connects various maritime trade routes to the wide European inner region.
The European Commission President Ursula von Der Luyen summarized the strategic value of the harbor before: “If the port of Rotterdam is going well, the European economy is going well.”
Among the increasing geopolitical tensions, especially in relation to Russia, the port of Rotterdam will now make room for ships with military equipment.
Dutch officials work closely with neighboring ports such as NATO and Antwerp to prepare for scenarios containing military logistics.
In the event of a conflict, the port is expected to play a central role in receiving and sending military equipment and materials.
General Manager of Rotterdam Authority Port Boudewijn Siemons, Financial times: “Not every terminal military burden.
“If large amounts of military goods need to be shipped, we look at Antwerp or other ports to address some capacity and other ways. We see each other as less and less competitors.
“And of course, we compete where we need to do it, but we work together where we can.”
