Billions
The level of the current infrastructure is largely the result of the major investment projects in Rotterdam between 1992 and 2008. Billions were and are spent on roads and railways (the A15 Motorway, Port Railway Line/Betuwe Route), quays, terminals (especially at the present Maasvlakte), refineries/chemical industry and tank storage (e.g. Shell, Vopak, Lyondell, Huntsman, ExxonMobil Odfjell) and biofuels.

In the period until 2015, investments will certainly not decrease and counted as from 2007 amounts almost €15 billion. The government earmarked € 2 billion for improving and increasing the capacity of the backbone of the port area: 45 km. long road corridor between the Maasvlakte in the west and the hinterland. The Port of Rotterdam Authority spends some € 175 million on the maintenance and expansion of roads, quays, safety, the environment, IT systems, etc. in the present port area. Trade and industry are currently set to spend around € 10 billion. This amount is, despite the economic crisis, almost constant. Withdrawn projects are in general compensated by new ones, especially to produce cleaner mineral fuels.

In addition to all this, the Second Maasvlakte is to be built, costing around  € 3 billion.

Photo: Construction Maasvlakte 2 unique in the western hemisphere.

More information: The Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010