page_title: Port of Rotterdam
section_title: Europoort and Maasvlakte extensions
hierarchical_section_title: Port of Rotterdam / Europoort and Maasvlakte extensions
context_page_description: The Port of Rotterdam is the largest seaport in Europe, located in the city of Rotterdam in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. From 1962 until 2004 it was the world's busiest port, now overtaken first by Singapore and then Shanghai. In 2018, Rotterdam was the world's eleventh-largest container port in terms of twenty-foot equivalent units handled. In 2017 Rotterdam was the world's tenth-largest port in terms of annual cargo tonnage.
  Covering 105 square kilometres, the port of Rotterdam now stretches over a distance of 40 kilometres. It consists of the city centre's historic harbour area, including Delfshaven; the Maashaven/Rijnhaven/Feijenoord complex; the harbours around Nieuw-Mathenesse; Waalhaven; Vondelingenplaat; Eemhaven; Botlek; Europoort, situated along the Calandkanaal, Nieuwe Waterweg and Scheur; and the reclaimed Maasvlakte area, which projects into the North Sea. The Port of Rotterdam is located in the middle of the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta. Rotterdam has five port concessions within its boundaries - operated by separate companies under the overall authority of Rotterdam.
context_section_description: Over the years the port was further developed seaward by building new docks and harbour-basins. Rotterdam's harbour territory has been enlarged by the construction of the Europoort (gate to Europe) complex along the mouth of the Nieuwe Waterweg. In the 1970s the port was extended into the sea at the south side of the mouth of the Nieuwe Waterweg by completion of the Maasvlakte (Meuse-plain) which was built in the North Sea near Hoek van Holland.
  In the past five years the industrialised skyline has been changed by the addition of large numbers of wind turbines taking advantage of the exposed coastal conditions. The construction of a second Maasvlakte received initial political approval in 2004, but was stopped by the Raad van State (the Dutch Council of State, which advises the government and parliament on legislation and governance) in 2005, because the plans did not take enough account of environmental issues. On 10 October 2006, however, approval was acquired to start construction in 2008, aiming for the first ship to anchor in 2013.
caption: Satellite photography of the Port of Rotterdam.
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