From the magazine – With Schiphol Airport and the Port of Rotterdam already designated as Mainports in national government policy, and the Eindhoven region – with its employment and knowledge institutions centred around ASML – recognised as a Brainport, the Drechtsteden region is now positioning itself as the Netherlands’ top region for maritime manufacturing. Through the De Witt Future Pact 2035, the Drechtsteden and Rotterdam regions, together with the national government, aim to join forces as drivers of this ambition.
In every issue of SWZ|Maritime, SWZ|Maritime’s editor Antoon Oosting writes an opinion piece under the heading “Markets” about the maritime industry or a particular sector within it. In the February 2026 issue, he discusses the De Witt Future Pact 2035 launched by the Drechtsteden and its implications for the maritime sector in the region. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher (the SWZ Foundation), the KNVTS, or other editors.
With an expected investment volume of EUR 1.5 to EUR 2 billion, the goal is to provide a joint, forward-looking impulse to the maritime manufacturing economy of the Netherlands, South Holland and the Drechtsteden region.
The pact was discussed on 27 January during the Maritime Congress Drechtsteden at the Duurzaamheidsfabriek in Dordrecht with representatives of industry and local authorities (Drechtsteden–Gorinchem–Werkendam). The investment and implementation agenda translates the strategic lines from the Wennink report and the Maritime Manufacturing Industry Sector Agenda into concrete action.
‘With the Sector Agenda, we are calling for active industrial policy: accelerating innovation, safeguarding strategic shipbuilding capacity and realising the energy transition at the yard. What I see here in the Drechtsteden is the step towards action: living labs, robotisation and concrete dual-use applications,’ said Marja van Bijsterveldt, Government Envoy for Maritime Manufacturing, at the congress.
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Innovation and sustainability
Specifically, over the next ten years, the region aims to strengthen the port performance of the Port of Rotterdam, improve logistics via water, rail and road, accelerate innovation and sustainability in the sector, maintain and grow maritime employment, develop strategic dual-use capacity (for civil and military purposes), and enhance the Netherlands’ energy security and autonomy. To secure the required billions, the region intends to seek funding from national and European funds together with other public authorities, knowledge institutions and companies.
The EUR 1.5–2 billion is considered necessary to build a strong sector that contributes to the key challenges of national, provincial and regional governments. According to the initiators, the ambitions set out in the De Witt Future Pact align with EU, national and provincial policies, as well as with the Maritime Master Plan and the Maritime Manufacturing Industry Sector Agenda.
Through the pact, the region seeks to increase innovation and thereby the Netherlands’ earning capacity. The Ministry of Economic Affairs aims to invest significantly more in research and development. Accordingly, the region pledges to allocate at least five per cent of all regional investments to R&D and innovation.
Strong maritime DNA in the region
With its many shipyards and supplier industries, the Drechtsteden region has historically had a strong maritime DNA, offering significant opportunities for maritime manufacturing. Together, Rotterdam and the Drechtsteden form an economic hub of global scale, with an international port complex and a strategic location between the sea and the European hinterland. With leading companies such as Boskalis, Royal IHC, Van Oord and Damen, and a strong SME base, the region plays a leading role in maritime manufacturing.
South Holland has a long tradition of applied innovation. In emission-free technology, autonomous sailing and hydrogen infrastructure, the region is at the forefront in Europe. Supported by close ties with leading regional institutions such as TU Delft and Erasmus University, there is a strong ecosystem for start-ups and scale-ups, backed by proven implementation capacity through existing shipyards and waterfront industrial sites.
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Region at a turning point
However, the De Witt Future Pact 2035 also highlights concerns. Europe, the Netherlands and the region itself are at a turning point. Energy supply, the labour market and the climate are under pressure. Geopolitical developments are unsettling the international economic order.
According to the initiators, without targeted investments the region faces major risks, including increasing dependence on foreign technology and energy, declining competitiveness due to high energy costs and grid congestion, and a deteriorating business climate driven in part by rising personnel and raw material costs.
If no action is taken, possible consequences include reduced port performance in Rotterdam and a weakening of the link between seagoing and inland shipping, loss of maritime manufacturing in South Holland, loss of knowledge and innovation to other countries, and a decline in economic performance.
Smart Delta Drechtsteden (the partnership of Alblasserdam, Dordrecht, Hardinxveld-Giessendam, Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, Papendrecht, Sliedrecht, Zwijndrecht, Gorinchem and Werkendam) represents EUR 15–20 billion in annual maritime turnover. A decline in maritime employment would therefore have broad impact. There is also a risk of losing strategic dual-use capacities for defence.
With the future pact, governments and industry are committing to decisive action. The ambition is clear: South Holland will develop into the innovation district for the maritime manufacturing industry of the future. Here, the shipyard and ship of the future will be built — sustainable, circular and autonomous. Within ten years, the region aims to double turnover and create thousands of high-quality jobs. The sector is to become emission-free through hydrogen technology developed in cooperation with regional knowledge institutions and companies. Innovation is seen as the driver of broader prosperity and employment for residents of the region, according to the initiators of the De Witt Pact.
Electric charging and bunkering infrastructure
The pact identifies four key challenges: decarbonising shipping, creating sufficient space for businesses, stimulating innovation and competitiveness, and building a strong labour market. Decarbonisation focuses on climate-neutral and circular shipbuilding, electrification, sustainable infrastructure and innovation, so the sector retains a leading position. An estimated EUR 170 million is needed for nautical charging and bunkering infrastructure in South Holland.
A further EUR 8 million is required for the expansion of energy cooperatives. Establishing a Manufacturing/Innovation Factory to facilitate more start-ups requires EUR 12 million. A Clean Energy Hub requires EUR 60 million. The National Refit Alliance for converting inland vessels to emission-free propulsion requires around EUR 10 million, as does the ZEDHub project, which aims to deliver an emission-free dredging vessel.
An additional EUR 110 million is needed for port expansion in Werkendam. Expansion of the Third Merwede Harbour in Dordrecht requires EUR 5 million for additional land acquisition. The purchase and redevelopment of the Nedstaal site in Alblasserdam requires EUR 25 million. Further investments, yet to be determined, are needed for a field lab at IHC to develop dual-use technology and for the expansion of the container terminal in Alblasserdam.
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Development of smart welding robots
To stimulate innovation and competitiveness, EUR 2–5 million is required to facilitate an autonomous sailing project at the Duurzaamheidsfabriek. Around EUR 4 million is needed for the STREAM project as part of the national pilot “Shipyard of the Future”. On 9 February, Minister of Economic Affairs Vincent Karremans, together with Van Bijsterveldt, officially launched STREAM during a working visit to Neptune Marine in Hardinxveld-Giessendam, where the project will be further implemented.
The goal of STREAM is to develop a self-learning, automated panel line with smart welding robots and cobots. This should make shipbuilding processes more efficient, reduce costs by ten to fifteen per cent and strengthen international competitiveness. Partners include Royal IHC, Shipyard Gebr. Kooiman, Mercury Yacht Construction (a subsidiary of Oceanco), RoboHouse and SAM XL.
The broader “Shipyard of the Future” partnership consists of Neptune Marine, Royal IHC, Holland Shipyards, Shipyard Gebr. Kooiman, Den Breejen Shipyard, Shipyard Slob, De Haas Shipyards, Damen Shipyards, InnovationQuarter (the development agency of the Province of South Holland) and Deal Drechtsteden. A start-up and scale-up manufacturing programme and a Defence Innovation Lab are also in development.
Strong labour market
The region aims to build a strong labour market by strengthening cooperation between education and the labour market, focusing on entry and progression, inclusivity and innovative recruitment strategies. Plans include establishing a Maritime Knowledge and Learning Centre and expanding the existing Hybrid University project. The latter requires EUR 10 million. Developing a masterclass programme in hydraulic engineering requires EUR 5 million, and expanding the Talent Fund requires another EUR 10 million. These projects are only initial examples; further elaboration will follow in cooperation with entrepreneurs and educational institutions.
Cartoon by Hans de Wilde/SWZ|Maritime.
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