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On June 10, 2026, German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (l.) and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands (r.) visited the Port of Rotterdam. This visit was part of the state visit of the Federal President, which took place from June 9 to 11.
Visit to the CO₂ transport project
The two heads of state first went to the Porthos project, which deals with the transport and storage of CO₂. During a tour of the construction site, they gained insights into the compressor station, where compressors from the manufacturer Everllence process the CO₂ extracted from companies in the port for transport to empty gas fields beneath the seabed. These fields are located about 20 km off the coast. From the roof of the main building, they were able to see the CO₂ injection platform at that distance.
Subsequently, Steinmeier and Willem-Alexander visited Portlantis, an experience center of the port. There, Boudewijn Siemons (M.), CEO of the Port Authority of Rotterdam, spoke about the importance of the port for the German economy as well as the ARRRA cluster (Antwerp-Rotterdam-Rhine-Ruhr area). Markus Bangen, CEO of the largest inland port in the world in Duisburg, also participated in the discussion. Minister Stientje van Veldhoven for Climate and Green Growth addressed CO₂ transport and storage in the Netherlands in a subsequent discussion, supported by key players in this field, including Aramis, OGE, Gasunie, EBN, Shell, and Air Liquide.
Boat tour through a port important to Germany
After the visits on land, the two heads of state boarded a boat to take a tour of the port. They passed the facilities of APM, SIF, and Neste and held discussions with the CEOs of these companies, which have connections to Germany. Mayor Carola Schouten and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius discussed with the CEO of the Port Authority of Rotterdam and representatives of the Dutch Ministry of Defense about the role of ports in military mobility and resilience in Europe.
Boudewijn Siemons commented on the visit: “We are proud to have welcomed the heads of state of Germany and the Netherlands to discuss the development of the Port of Rotterdam and the cooperation between the Netherlands and Germany in the areas of logistics, energy transition, and defense. We are already connected in many ways, and future infrastructures such as the Delta-Rhine corridor for hydrogen and CO₂ can further strengthen our collaboration.”
The state visit underscores the intense and diverse relationships between Germany and the Netherlands in political, economic, and cultural areas. Germany is the Netherlands‘ most important trading partner, while the Netherlands is Germany’s third-largest trading partner. During the state visit, the diversity of partnerships, the significance of shared values, and a forward-looking agenda for both countries are highlighted.
