The Drechtsteden region is translating the strategic ambitions of the Wennink report and the Maritime Sector Agenda into concrete projects through the De Witt Future Pact 2035. Total investments of €1.5 to €2 billion are envisaged over the next decade.
Presented at the Maritime Congress Drechtsteden on 27 January, the pact sets out a multi-year investment and implementation agenda focused on high-tech innovation, strategic autonomy, energy transition and improved port performance.
The pact emphasises execution: digitalisation and robotisation in shipbuilding, innovation ecosystems around autonomous sailing and zero-emission technologies, and the creation of enabling conditions such as waterfront space, energy infrastructure and talent development. Dual-use applications linking civil and military innovation play a key role.
Also read: Maritime key in Wennink’s Dutch version of Draghi-report
Shipyard of the Future
As one of Europe’s leading maritime manufacturing regions, the Drechtsteden builds on its strength in low-volume, high-complexity ship and system innovations. Flagship initiatives include the Shipyard of the Future, where projects such as STREAM and SHIP.nl apply AI, robotics and advanced production techniques to increase productivity and safeguard Dutch shipbuilding capacity.
Decarbonisation is addressed through initiatives like ZEDhub, which accelerates zero-emission dredging technologies, and the Smart Energy Hub Sliedrecht, a hydrogen hub designed to relieve grid congestion and support emission-free transport and shipping.
Also read: Drechtsteden and Altena to boost maritime clusters
Co-investers and scaling up
The De Witt Future Pact aims to move decisively from vision to delivery, calling on national government, regional authorities and industry to co-invest and scale up. By doing so, the Drechtsteden position themselves as a European top region for maritime manufacturing and innovation.
In his February opinion piece under the heading Markets, SWZ|Maritime editor Antoon Oosting will discuss the De Witt Future Pact in more detail. Keep your eyes peeled for this article, expected around 19 February.
Picture: Opening of the Maritime Congress Drechtsteden by (from left to right) Maarten Burggraaf, Alderman of Dordrecht and Maritime Portfolio Holder for Smart Delta Drechtsteden, Chair Gerard Schouw and André Huykman, Programme Director (quartermaster) for De Witt Future Pact 2035 (photo by Sky Productions).
