APM Terminals Maasvlakte II celebrated a significant milestone yesterday: ten years of operations in the Port of Rotterdam. During this festive occasion, customers and partners were thanked for their trust and collaboration over the past decade. That joint effort has helped APMT MVII grow into one of the most advanced container terminals in Europe.

Expansion of quay and rail capacity

Mara Vroon, Head of Commerce at APM Terminals Maasvlakte II, expressed her appreciation for the continued partnership with the rail freight sector:
“Without the commitment of our rail freight partners, we wouldn’t be where we are today. That collaboration forms the foundation for a sustainable future.”

At the same time, the focus turned to the future. APMT’s ambitious expansion plans – already well underway – are preparing the terminal for its next phase. The expansion includes:

• 51 hectares of additional terminal area

• 1,000 metres of deep-sea quay

• three new rail tracks of 750 metres each

The rail terminal at APM Terminals Maasvlakte II is directly connected to the Betuweroute, the dedicated freight railway linking the Port of Rotterdam with the German border at Zevenaar–Emmerich. Three intermodal rail cranes span all eight tracks – four existing and four new. The first phase of this expansion is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

In the photo: Julian Remie (CEO – Rail Innovators Group), Mara Vroon (Head of Commerce – APMT MV2) and Wietse Bruinsma (Marketing Communications – Rail Cargo Information Netherlands)

Rail gaining momentum

Also speaking at the event was Julian Remie, CEO of Rail Innovators Group:
“It’s encouraging to see rail gaining momentum across Europe. There’s a clear increase in long-term investments, which is a positive signal for the future. At the same time, these transitions bring short-term challenges that impact daily operations. We can’t simply make trains run faster — we rely on strong partners. And APMT is exactly that: a flexible partner with a can-do mentality. That mindset helps us build client confidence in choosing rail. We’ve been successfully increasing the rail share among our customers, and APMT’s proactive approach makes it easier to connect to the terminal’s growing capacity in the coming period.”

These developments represent a major step forward in terms of both capacity and efficiency. Not just for APM Terminals, but for the broader logistics chain – with rail playing an increasingly vital role. For the Port of Rotterdam, this is a key move in strengthening its position as a future-proof and sustainable logistics hub.

Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, underlined the strategic importance of such investments:
“Investments like these are essential to keep the port attractive as a business location and to safeguard its position as a reliable and resilient container hub in Northwest Europe. In times of geopolitical uncertainty, that’s crucial for supply security and employment in the Netherlands and across Europe.”

Rail Cargo Information Netherlands is proud to welcome APM Terminals Maasvlakte II as a participant. Together, we aim to further strengthen the role of combined transport in the European supply chain.