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Rotterdam (The Netherlands)
Rotterdam (The Netherlands)
The strength of Rotterdam as an inland hub
Rotterdam is Europe’s leading port for inland waterway transport, and with good reason. Nearly 91,000 inland vessels pass through the Port of Rotterdam every year, handling around 60 to 70 percent of all freight transported on Europe’s inland waterways.
What makes Rotterdam so important is its location. Positioned at the mouth of the Rhine and Meuse rivers, the port provides direct access to Europe’s vast inland waterway network, reaching destinations in Germany, Belgium, France and Switzerland with ease. This unique combination of scale, connectivity and accessibility makes Rotterdam the beating heart of Europe’s inland transport system.
Duisburg (Germany)
Duisburg (Germany)
The strength of Duisburg as an inland hub
Duisburg is the world’s largest inland port, connected to the sea through an extensive network of rivers. The city plays a key role in Europe’s transition toward more sustainable logistics by shifting freight from road transport to cleaner alternatives such as inland shipping and rail.
Each year, around 20,000 vessels call at Duisburg. While this is fewer than at major seaports, it is an impressive number for an inland hub of this scale. With its strong intermodal connections and focus on environmentally friendly logistics, Duisburg stands out as a frontrunner in building a sustainable future for inland navigation and SDG-oriented transport.
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