Logistics remains one of the Netherlands’ key economic drivers. According to new research by the Knowledge Institute for Mobility Policy (KiM), inland waterway transport in particular is proving to be an efficient and relatively sustainable alternative within international freight transport.
The logistics sector generates billions of euros in economic value for the Netherlands and plays a crucial role in the country’s position as Europe’s distribution hub.
According to KiM, international trade generated approximately 214 billion euros in added value for the Netherlands in 2022. That amounts to almost 22 per cent of gross domestic product.
Freight transport alone accounted for nearly 20 billion euros in economic value. In addition, storage, transhipment and supply chain management generated a further 13 billion euros.
The Netherlands benefits from its strong infrastructure, ports, distribution centres and multimodal connections to Europe.
…according to research, inland waterway transport incurs significantly lower social costs than road transport?
Inland waterway transport plays a key role in the Netherlands’ international supply chains. Large volumes of goods can be transported efficiently with relatively limited strain on infrastructure and the environment.
According to the analysis, the social costs of inland waterway transport are significantly lower than those of lorries. These include emissions, noise pollution, road accidents and infrastructure strain.
For road transport, these external costs amount to an average of over 51 euros per 1,000 tonne-kilometres. For inland waterway transport, this figure is approximately 22 euros.
In addition, transport by water reduces pressure on roads and motorways. Additional transport via inland waterways requires relatively few extra infrastructure costs.
At the same time, the report also highlights the societal challenges posed by logistics. Distribution centres take up a lot of space, and freight transport continues to generate emissions and place a strain on infrastructure.
The Netherlands now has approximately 78 square kilometres of distribution centres. That area is comparable to a medium-sized town.
For inland waterway transport, the biggest challenge lies in making the fleet more sustainable. Diesel engines still produce air-polluting emissions, meaning rail transport scores better in that respect.
According to KiM, further emission reductions remain necessary to maintain the societal benefits of inland waterway transport.
You can read more about sustainable logistics solutions on the page about multimodal transport.
The report thus confirms that logistics remains an important economic pillar for the Netherlands, with inland waterway transport playing an increasingly significant role in sustainable freight flows.