Plus 3 surprising facts about the port from Joost Eenhuizen
Meet Joost Eenhuizen, Port of Rotterdam's business manager for breakbulk & offshore who has worked at the port for 21 years. His enthusiasm and ever-present smile reflect his love for the job. Here we ask him three big questions as he and his team are preparing for Breakbulk Europe 2024 – our third time in Rotterdam, hosted by the port.
Q: What is the best way to experience the Port of Rotterdam?
The best way to visit the port is definitely by boat. All breakbulk terminals have a main focus on quay side operations and this can best be seen and experienced from the waterside. Visitors to Rotterdam will see
both the city terminals close to the city center of Rotterdam as well as for the large scale terminals such as Maasvlakte. Different tours are organized throughout the year and they are never the same as the port is constantly busy with dozens of vessels.
But Breakbulk Europe attendees get VIP treatment. We've arranged a special boat tour on Wednesday, 22 May, that leaves the Spido dock at 16:30 and returns at 20:00. I recommend you join to get a front row seat.
There is a maximum capacity for this event so additional registration is required to attend - if you've already registered for your Breakbulk Europe visitor ticket you'll have received an email with your own personal link, if you haven't recieved this please reach out to breakbulksupport@breakbulk.com. – the Breakbulk Team
Q: What makes the port stand out from other European ports?
Besides a truly optimal nautical access and process as seen from a vessel perspective, I couldn’t be more proud of the variety, flexibility and in-depth experiences all Rotterdam companies are able to provide. Whether that's in steel, non-ferros, forrest products or Heavy Lift & Project Cargo, over 20 terminals and an even greater number of supportive/ service companies have been able to constantly adopt to changing market dynamics and are constantly investing in efficiency improvement and measurements to improve sustainable operations.
Besides being a logistic hub, the port of Rotterdam is itself a major industrial area and serves other major industrial areas which are all in transition to become more circulair. The breakbulk industry is a major contributor to these developments and as proved in the past, the industry will definitely be geared to facilitate the European industry for the decades to come.
Q: Tell us three surprising things about the port that most people don't know about!
- A major port basin for breakbulk industry is the Waalhaven. It the largest hand-dug port basin of Europe!
- One of the largest breakbulk terminals in Rotterdam used to be a full-sized container terminal, a rare re-development which normally is seen in opposite direction.
- The origin of the Port of Rotterdam Authority partly lies in bankruptcy of a businessman over a century ago. He flew the country, leaving a newly constructed port area on which the port was built and continues to expand its footprint today.
