Fueling the Future: Amsterdam Embraces Hydrogen Opportunities

For more than 750 years, Amsterdam has been a gateway for global trade. Today, that same spirit of openness is being directed toward one of the most urgent challenges of our time: the energy transition. Through the Hydrogen 2 Amsterdam (H2A) coalition, public and private partners are working together to make the port of Amsterdam a leading hub for green hydrogen imports into Northwest Europe. 

A serious player in Europe’s hydrogen economy 

Europe’s demand for clean energy is growing rapidly. With its strategic location, multimodal logistics network, and strong industrial base, Amsterdam is positioning itself as a cornerstone in the European hydrogen economy. Our message to producers, offtakers, investors, and governments is clear: Amsterdam is open for hydrogen business. 
Market readiness: from pilots to projects 
In the past two years, Amsterdam has moved from ambition to action: 

  • Infrastructure: The Port of Amsterdam enabled the Netherlands’ first liquid hydrogen bunkering in 2025 and is advancing large-scale import terminal projects, including liquid hydrogen and liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) facilities with ECOLOG, EVOS, and other international partners. 
  • Regional network: Together with Firan, Port of Amsterdam are developing H2avennet, the dedicated regional hydrogen grid in the North Sea Canal Area, linking port terminals and industry directly into the national backbone operated by Hynetwork. 
  • International cooperation: Based on our shared commitment to sustainable energy policy and long-term climate goals, the collaboration with numerous international partners is unlocking new business opportunities and accelerating cross-border energy integration. 

Demand ecosystem: from local anchors to regional scale 

  • The Amsterdam region offers a unique demand base for green hydrogen and its derivatives. In our direct vicinity, Tata Steel and Schiphol Airport are preparing to transition to hydrogen, alongside logistics companies, mobility players, and energy users in the North Sea Canal Area. Within the port itself, Amsterdam hosts a strong industrial cluster that is part of the global elite in fuels, basic metals, machine construction, food, aerospace, and control technology.  
  • This is complemented by Amsterdam’s role as an international transport hub: the 4th largest seaport in Europe with direct connections to the 4th largest airport in Europe (Schiphol). As the largest petroleum port in the world, Amsterdam has both the urgency and the aspiration to develop a strong position in hydrogen and its derivatives.  
  • Looking ahead, the demand for green hydrogen in Northwest Europe is expected to far exceed local production capacity, creating a structural need for imports. Forecasts for the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany together point to a potential hydrogen import market of 35 million tons per year by 2050. 
  • With 45 million tons of existing liquid bulk storage throughput, reusable infrastructure, and strong connections into the Dutch, Belgian, and German markets, Amsterdam is exceptionally well-positioned to capture a significant share of this future import market and to serve as Europe’s hydrogen gateway. 

Public-private alignment across the value chain 
The strength of Amsterdam’s hydrogen ecosystem lies in collaboration across the full chain: 

  • Government support: The City of Amsterdam, Province of North Holland, and the Dutch government are committed to making Amsterdam a hydrogen import hub, backed by European frameworks for funding, permitting, and certification. 
  • Industry partners: Terminal operators, infrastructure developers, logistics firms, and project developers are investing in scalable solutions that will move hydrogen from pilot to commercial reality. 
  • Knowledge & innovation: Universities and research institutes in the region are embedding hydrogen into education, safety standards, and workforce training, ensuring that talent keeps pace with industry needs. 

A clear lobbying agenda 
Through H2A, Amsterdam speaks with one voice in national and European discussions on hydrogen. Together, we advocate for the conditions that will enable a strong and competitive hydrogen economy: from faster permitting for essential infrastructure, to clear certification frameworks for international trade, and support for early adopters that help create market confidence. 
By combining the strengths of our public and private partners, H2A ensures that the Amsterdam region is well represented in policy dialogues and that the interests of our members are heard where it matters most. 
Next steps: certainty for producers and buyers 
Right now, many producers are waiting for guaranteed demand, while potential buyers wait for secure supply and competitive pricing mechanisms. Amsterdam is bridging this gap by offering infrastructure readiness, coordinated public support, and a clear ecosystem of early users. This certainty is what will unlock large-scale investment and trade. 
Amsterdam is ready.
From terminals and pipelines to airports and steel production, the pieces are in place to make hydrogen imports a reality. With H2A as the connecting platform, the port of Amsterdam is signaling loud and clear: we are open for hydrogen business.