Main ports: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Rotterdam Port

Rotterdam’s qualities

Rotterdam is the main port in Europe and one of the most important ones in the world. This among other things is due to its excellent accessibility: the channel is very deep and there are no locks. Even the largest ships can quickly and easily reach the port. The port of Rotterdam also has excellent connections with the surrounding area. This means that there are many trains, barges, coasters, pipelines and trucks that go to varying destinations in Europe. The infrastructure inside of and beyond the port is excellent. In addition, Rotterdam is a ‘complete’ port. You can load, discharge and distribute all possible cargo flows. There is a lot of (petrol) chemical industry: companies can have their (semi-finished) products turned into all sorts of things. Rotterdam is also home to many providers of business services such as banks, insurance companies and mercantile houses. They handle all kinds of things having to do with the port. Schiphol’s qualities

• The strategic location
In the neighbouring countries of the Netherlands there are a some big competitors of Schiphol, which are bigger than Schiphol. Some examples are Heathrow and Frankfurt. An advantage of Schiphol is that it is located near the Ruhrgebied in Germany, because many international businesses are located in the Ruhrgebied.

• Different transport abilities
The airplane is, of course, the most important transport at Schiphol but not the only one. Passengers, just like goods, can travel by train, and you also have the car and bus.

• The nearness of large markets
Nederland is a small country with not many inhabitants, who cannot assure a large market of for Schiphol if we talk about the transportation of people. That’s why Schiphol mainly is a transit place. This is not only for passengers but also for the transport of goods.

• The presence of important services (transport, banks, insurances) A lot of large international businesses have an office in the Netherlands, but why? This is because of the Dutch’s great knowledge at distribution, most Dutch people have learnt a lot of different languages at college, but this is also because of the existence of the two main ports Port Rotterdam en Schiphol.

The history of Rotterdam port: Rotterdam started out as a small village on the River Rotte. Around 1250, the river mouth was closed off by dams; rising sea levels meant that too much salt water was able to penetrate inland. However, these dams troubled shipping traffic. This made it necessary to carry cargo over the dam, loading it from one ship to another. The dam therefore turned out to be an outstanding location for the trading of cargo. Thanks to the herring fishing industry, the village grew into a city. Around 1600, the port was able to accommodate as many as 100 herring ships. Rotterdam developed into a mercantile port. Merchant ships sailed from Rotterdam to South America and the Dutch East Indies and back. Ships would anchor right in the heart of the city to among other things discharge tobacco and spices. These products were stored in the warehouses on the quays. In the nineteenth century, the age of the Industrial Revolution, the port radically changed. Ships were increasingly made of steel instead of wood, steamers replaced sailing ships. Manual labour made way for machines such as steam cranes and steam trains. The port became too big. The construction of new port basins for the first time also took place on the south bank of the Nieuwe Maas, also referred to as the left bank. Three developments heralded the success of Rotterdam. The first one was the rise of the German Ruhr area. The German steel industry needed vast quantities of ores. Thanks to the Rhine, Rotterdam was the perfect port of supply for this. Barges carried the ores, but also coal and other products, to the cities on the River Rhine in Germany. From there, goods would also return to Rotterdam. Usually, these goods would be moved from the port to overseas destinations by sea-going vessels. The second development was the opening of the Nieuwe Waterweg (‘New Waterway’). Up to the second half of the nineteenth century, ships often had to take a long detour in order to reach Rotterdam. This was because the sea approaches to Rotterdam slowly silted up. Engineer Pieter Caland came up with the suggestion to cut through part of the dunes at Hoek van Holland and to in that way create a new link with the sea. In 1872, this ‘Nieuwe Waterweg’ was taken into use. It gave a new impulse to the growth of the port. From now on, it was much easier for ships to call at Rotterdam. The third development was the Mannheim Treaty of 1868, which gave everybody free access to the River Rhine. At the end of the nineteenth century, people all over the world started to discover the importance of petroleum, for example for the production of gasoline. Right from the start, most of all the oil for Western Europe was supplied via Rotterdam. Western Europe in those days hardly had any petroleum of its own. The extraction of oil using rigs on the continental shelf of the North Sea did not start until later. But even nowadays, most of the oil is still imported. The construction of the first petroleum ports took place prior to World War II. In World War II, roughly forty percent of the port was destroyed. Following the war, a lot of energy was invested in the reconstruction of the flattened port. Soon, the port was doing so well, that there was not enough room to accommodate all the companies and ships. The decision was made to expand in a westerly direction: the area between Rotterdam and Hoek van Holland. And south of the Nieuwe Waterweg, the Eemhaven and Botlek emerged. Petroleum increasingly became more important to the economy after World War II. Shipbuilding yards constructed vast tankers for the transport of oil, which were also called mammoth tankers. Due to their drafts, these vessels could however not enter the existing harbour basins. The construction of the Europoort meant that Rotterdam retained its accessibility. The ports in the Europoort have a depth of more than twenty meters. Various companies also established themselves in the Europoort. Until there was no more space and the sea was reached. In order to expand, the decision was made to create land in the sea. For this, a section of the sea was fenced off, the water was drained and the enclosure was raised by spouting up sand. In 1973, the first ship moored at a company at the Maasvlakte. The history of Schiphol

On the 19Th of September 1996 Schiphol existed exactly eighty years. Through all years there have been a lot of changes. Schiphol grew from grassland into a main port. But it’s never replaced. Schiphol was not more than grassland, until the Second World War, where just a few airplanes from London landed. Flying was too slow, too unsafe, and furthermore too expensive. In the war Schiphol was totally destroyed by the Germans. But a new plan, for an airport with better access and a completely new construction, was quickly made. This plan was for the Netherlands in those times too much but because this plan was very flexible and gave the Netherlands a good perspective they could work on it in 1967. They worked very hard to build this airport. It took twenty years but the result is incredible. A modern airport made of glass and steel. After this difficult start things went really fast. The air traffic and the airport rapidly changed. The airplanes became more comfortable, faster, and safer. More and more people could and travelled by airplane. That’s how Schiphol changed from grassland into Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, which has become a thriving business. The key role of Rotterdam port for the economy The port of Rotterdam is an important dynamo for the Dutch economy. Thanks to the port, a lot of money is made and many people are employed. The port plays an important role in the lives of all inhabitants of the Netherlands. People are often not aware of this. In fact, the port is a gigantic department store. Many of the things in and around the house and at work have been in the port. This for example also applies to daily meals and beverages. In and around the port, both economic and environmental interests play a role. The port and industrial complex borders on a residential area where approximately one million people live. In addition, there are nature reserves around the port. Environmental groups are keen to preserve these areas as many (rare) plants and animals live there. On the one hand, people want to live pleasantly and preserve natural areas. On the other hand, they want to earn money. These interests sometimes seem contradictory. Together, the government, the business community and the environmental organizations in the area are aiming to strike a proper balance, for example regarding the construction of Maasvlakte 2. The joint conclusion is: it’s necessary, it’s possible and it’s allowed, but only under certain conditions. The Port of Rotterdam therefore also substantially participates in this, because it is also of the opinion that the port should be clean and safe.

The port is very important regarding employment. At the start of the 21st century, the port of Rotterdam generates employment for more than 310,000 people. Who knows, maybe there is something you like! There is a difference between direct and indirect employment. Regarding direct employment (roughly 60,000 people), the focus is on work in the port and port industry itself. With indirect employment, we mean all the people who do not work in the port itself, but because of the port: think of suppliers and customers, truck drivers, cleaners and technicians. The key role of Schiphol for the economy Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is an airport which has grown rapidly. This growth is very important for the Dutch economy. Schiphol is not only an important access for international trade but also is a “job machine” for the Netherlands. In the past ten years Schiphol has given 15000 people a job.

A lot of businesses supply goods, which can vary from food, for the meals of the passengers, to cleaning material and security services. These kinds of things supply production, income, and employment.

Businesses have a good reason to have their business near the airport. An example is a hotel which lies near an airport: the people who are going to stay in such a hotel are mostly passengers and crew who has just come from another country or leave to another country. The hotel can take advantage of an airport, so too other types of businesses like transportation businesses because they can easily transport their goods.

Projects planned to improve situation Rotterdam port Harbour plan 2010: - The correcting of the pilots systems. - Extra surface area by closing old harbours, replacement of harbours and by expanding the Maasvlakte. - The correcting of the infrastructure by a new verkeerbegeleidend system, the correcting of inland shipping, better accessibility Maasvlakte, doubling of railway, spoor tunnels, Betuwelijn, Calandtunnel, double Benelux tunnel and a second tunnel under the Nieuwe Waterweg. - Expanding of the computer network - Measures for the environment. - Expanding of nature- and recreation.

Investing in the Future
The Port of Rotterdam has calculated that the total throughput in Rotterdam’s port and industrial area can increase from 322 million metric tons at present to 480 million metric tons of cargo in 2020. Antwerp and Hamburg are competitors of Rotterdam. Especially the port of Hamburg has been able to tap into new markets in Central and Eastern Europe following the disappearance of the Iron Curtain. Obviously, the Dutch government and the companies in the port are of the opinion that Rotterdam must remain the main port of Europe. The port therefore needs space to expand. In addition, the port must retain its good and quick accessibility over land and by water. That is why substantial amounts are invested in Rotterdam’s port and industrial complex. The government and the business community are continuously building. The largest project that is currently on the stocks is the construction of Maasvlakte 2, part of the Project Main port Development Rotterdam. Rotterdam has been granted permission to create new land in the sea, off the coast. This was also the case around 1970, regarding the first Maasvlakte.

Projects planned to improve situation Schiphol

Alternatives for a new or second airport: There are different options for a second airport or a new one. - Airport in the North Sea (“banen-op-afstand-model”) - Airport on the Maasvlakte (“overloopmodel”) - Airport on the Markermeer (“tandemmodel”) - A fifth runway

Problems of Rotterdam port The port of Rotterdam borders on residential areas where more than 1 million people live. These people very much want fresh air, clean soil, tranquillity, possibilities for recreation and a safe living environment. The government and the business community therefore strive for a clean and safe port that causes as little inconvenience as possible. From the government, the DCMR Environmental Service Rijnmond safeguards the environment and works to realize a better living environment in the region. This is done in close cooperation with the business community. The environmental service issues permits to companies. It also checks the compliance with environmental rules.

Problems and things in which we have to invest: • Air: the level of air pollution is measured in the port and industrial area by means of air pollution detectors. If there are too many pollutants in the air, the DCMR notifies the companies in the port. They must then reduce the emission of pollutants. • Soil: soil analyses are carried out to detect and prevent pollution of the soil. • Noise: in the port, certain noise zones have been established. This for example means that in and around residential areas, only a certain maximum level of ‘port noise’ must be audible. Complaints are followed up with a noise measurement vehicle. • Complaints hotline: the DCMR Environmental Service Rijnmond can be reached 24 hours a day to report environmental pollution in any form. It then directly tries to locate the source and come up with a solution.

Problems of Schiphol

Effects on the environment of air traffic
At regional level: • noise nuisance • safety risks • shortage of space • health problems • local air pollution
At global level: • CO2 gases green house effect global warmth • NOx gases • SO2 gases

Health problems because of pollution: • shorter life expectation • breathing problems • heart problems • bronchitis
Noise nuisance: • high blood pressure • heart ailment My opinion about the future development about the future developments: Schiphol

One of the new ‘ideas’ of Schiphol is to build a new model, the “banen-op-afstand”- model At the new airport there will be two start- en runways, a terminal building. At the new airport twenty billion passengers and almost five billion ‘ton’ goods can come along.

The pros:  The economy will be stimulated by the making of the new airport new jobs+ trade.  The region Schiphol will become calmer and less noisy. There will not only be less planes but the traffic on the road will decrease, especially the traffic which carries the goods.  Another pro is that all the night flights will take place on the island. De neighbourhood of Schiphol will get a better ‘night’, they can finally sleep well.  There will also be a better connection between the transport with ships and airplanes.  And if there is going to happen an accidence with e.g. a plane then the consequences will be not as big as they would be now. Like that accident with the Bijlmermeer, that was a disaster.

The cons:  The proceedings are going to take, something about five years, to actually ‘make’ that island. This will bring damage to the sea, pollute it. The ‘ecological balance’ will be disturbed. But if the island and the airport is finished; it will be a good and fine habitat for plants and animals.  Another con is that a lot of new railways have to be built between the island and the Netherlands to make the island more accessible. But it will harm the environment.  The building of the island can also be a big con for the currents in the North Sea.  The building of such a new airport will also cost a lot of money.  Another con is that there are going to be a lot of underground passages, to avoid commotion, between Schiphol and the island in the North Sea, what also is going to cost a lot of money.

My opinion about the future development about the future developments: Rotterdam port Rotterdam aims to be the best port in the world and retain its position as the most important port in Europe. Spearheads in the strategy for the future of the port of Rotterdam are container handling, chemicals and distribution. To offer these sectors the opportunity to grow and renew, space is needed. This space can be realized by means of the construction of Maasvlakte 2, a new top location for port-related activities boasting an excellent infrastructure. The port of Rotterdam invests in quality, for example by stimulating the development of ‘smart’ industrial activities, which allow for more effective and environment-friendly production processes. The growth of the port in the direction of the sea creates space in the city. Companies close to the city that cause hindrance or have simply become too big for that area can move to the west. In the old port areas that consequently become available, new developments can be initiated that contribute to strengthen the economy in and around the city. Together with the construction of Maasvlakte 2, which in the end will measure 1000 hectares in size, nature reserves will be developed in addition. The pros:  The entire Project Main port Development Rotterdam comprises Maasvlakte 2: the construction of a new port and industrial area in the North Sea. This will have a negative impact on nature. The amount of damage will be limited as much as possible. In addition, a protected sea sanctuary will be realized and new dunes and beaches will be constructed.  The entire Project Main port Development Rotterdam comprises 750 hectares of nature; the development of new nature and recreation areas around Rotterdam. 600 hectares of nature and recreation area will be realized in Midden-IJsselmonde, 100 hectares in the Schiebroekse Polder and Zuidpolder (near Zestienhoven – Berkel and Rodenrijs), 50 hectares in the Schiezone. This sub-project will offer a significant contribution to realizing a better living environment in the Rijnmond (Greater Rotterdam) area.  The entire Project Main port Development Rotterdam comprises Rotterdam’s Existing Area: Rotterdam aims to make more efficient use of sites in the existing port area and realize a reduction of traffic and industrial noise. Measures will be initiated aimed at reducing the emission of heat and CO2. This must improve the liveability in the area surrounding the port areas.