Powerport Frequently Asked Questions

It became clear from the broad public meetings held in October 2025 that residents need clarity and bold leadership. The municipality has therefore decided to directly involve its residents in the municipal decision-making process regarding the municipality’s position. The municipality has three options:

1. Not making a choice. By doing so, the municipality is giving the national government the leeway to organize all upcoming energy projects wherever it sees fit.
2. The focus is on the southeast. This means space for energy projects on agricultural land and an inland expansion of the Moerdijk Port and Industrial Area. This will put pressure on the quality of life in a very large area. We’re not just talking about nuisance in the village of Moerdijk, but also in Zevenbergschen Hoek, Zevenbergen, and Langeweg.
3. Search direction: East. This means that the space required will come at the expense of the village of Moerdijk.

In short: there is no single option that is good for the municipality. The least bad option for the municipality is the “East” direction. This will allow us to limit the impact of the energy projects, for the most part, to the rest of our municipality. 

On November 11, the municipality issued a call to the national government and the province: “Give first, then take. Be clear, ensure fair compensation, and establish a regional fund that invests in quality of life”—that is the call the municipal executive is proposing to the council in the context of the national Powerport initiative. 

A Human-Centered Approach with Fair Compensation
Residents and (agricultural) business owners who are directly affected are entitled to prompt clarity,
fair compensation, and a careful process that prioritizes the human dimension.

A structural development vehicle for the collaborating governments
The national government, the province, and the municipality will jointly carry out the project through a permanent implementing organization
that ensures coherence in decision-making, planning, and investments. The outcomes of engagement with
residents, businesses, and civic organizations are systematically incorporated into this process, ensuring that
plans are shaped not just for, but together with, the region.

A regional fund for broad prosperity
The proceeds from the Powerport must flow back into the region. The fund simultaneously makes credible and systematic investments
in quality of life, agriculture, public amenities, nature, and future
earning potential. Residents and (agricultural) entrepreneurs are involved in the decisions that strengthen their
environment.

In collaboration with Surplus, the municipality is organizing walk-in consultation hours at De Ankerkuil, Steenweg 98, Moerdijk, at a set time each week:

• Wednesday afternoon, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

The municipality has formulated preconditions that, in our view, should accompany a decision on a development direction. This includes, among other things, a fair and humane relocation plan and housing strategy, process support for residents and (agricultural) business owners, and recognition of the importance of preserving history and identity. In addition, the municipality believes that an area program should be drawn up based on the principle of “give first, before taking anything away.”
You can read our preconditions on this website. 

“The municipality is committed to keeping the village viable for as long as possible. We want to reach agreements on this with the national government and the province.”

But we’re thinking, for example, of an arrangement that would allow people to continue living in a home they’ve sold to us for a longer period of time. This provides certainty regarding the purchase price, gives them peace of mind as they look for a replacement home, and ensures that the home remains occupied.

Another idea we plan to explore is using vacant homes as so-called “flex homes” for families who are currently unable to find housing on the rental market due to long waiting lists. There is high demand for this throughout the region. We believe this will help prevent vacancies and create a foundation for sustaining other community services, such as the elementary school and community organizations.

All of these projects will continue as usual. If it becomes apparent in the future that there is no viable future for the village of Moerdijk, a decision will be made at that time on how to proceed with these ongoing projects.

That is not yet certain at this time. No final decision has been made yet on which of the two development paths will be chosen. The national government, the province, and the municipality had agreed to reach a decision in principle during an administrative consultation on December 1, 2025, regarding the direction of expansion for the Moerdijk port and industrial area, the associated conditions, and the matters that require further elaboration. That decision was not reached. The intention is now to make a decision in principle in June 2026. This decision in principle must then be further formalized in a regional program and an environmental plan, known as the “legal and planning safeguards.”

It is expected to take approximately 10 years before a final plan is in place and all legal procedures have been completed. We therefore expect that the village can and will certainly remain inhabited until 2035.

The municipality of Moerdijk is doing everything in its power to ensure that the village remains a livable place while the plans are being developed. We hope this will reassure residents that they can continue to live in Moerdijk during this period.

It is possible, however, that construction work will take place in the vicinity of the village before then. This is because there are already projects in the pipeline that cannot wait until the plans for the entire area are finalized. These projects are proceeding ahead of the planning process for the entire area. This applies, for example, to a new high-voltage substation. However, the time required for planning, permitting, and construction of such a substation is also considerable. We do not expect the first construction activities to begin before 2028.

At this time, the only information available is how much space is needed and that the search will focus on space within existing industrial parks and on opportunities for expansion.

Since the exact location of the expansion has not yet been determined, no information is available at this time regarding any relocation arrangements or alternative locations for housing or agricultural operations. The details will be worked out at a later date in consultation with the parties involved.

A severance package is part of the set of conditions that the municipality of Moerdijk presented during the meeting on December 1, 2025. Once a decision has been made, a new package will be developed.

According to the current schedule, the first energy projects (a 380/150/20 kV substation, the Delta Rhine Corridor, and the onshore connection for offshore wind power) will be implemented starting in 2029. The implementation of industrial expansion will take longer.

Government officials at the national, provincial, and municipal levels have agreed that the expansion of existing industrial parks can only take place if overall prosperity is simultaneously, credibly, and structurally strengthened.

Officials at the national, provincial, and municipal levels recognize that finalizing the expansion in the short term will create a great deal of uncertainty for residents and business owners. That is why it has been agreed that a fair and humane approach is necessary. In the coming months, we will carefully carry out the necessary steps, keeping residents’ interests in mind.

Following the decision of June 11, 2025, the national government, the province, and the municipalities began discussions with organized associations representing residents, farmers, and businesses regarding the following two questions:

1. Under what conditions can the port and industrial area and the Amer area be densified?
2. Under what conditions can the port and industrial area and the Amer area be expanded?
   Discussions have also taken place with the initiators of ongoing projects in the target areas for the Powerport region.

Discussions were also held with the organizers of ongoing projects in the target areas for the Powerport region.

The information gathered earlier in 2025 will help form the basis for further developing the comprehensive plan. During this development process, there will be opportunities to incorporate input from individual residents, farmers, and businesses. The specific manner in which this will occur will be outlined in the action plan for the next phase of the process.

No, at this time there is no provision to compensate tenants financially if they move.

During the Administrative Consultation on the Living Environment on June 11, 2025, the national government and the region decided that approximately 700 hectares of land must be identified in the Moerdijk Powerport region (the municipalities of Geertruidenberg, Drimmelen, and Moerdijk) to support the energy transition and economic growth. This space is needed for the construction of new energy infrastructure, cable routes through agricultural areas, water storage, the growth and sustainability of the port and industry in Moerdijk, and expansion in the Amer area in Geertruidenberg.

Search directions have been established for this purpose: in Geertruidenberg, the search area extends from the Amer power plant in a west/southwesterly direction toward the Amertak. For the Moerdijk port and industrial cluster, two development directions are still under discussion: in an easterly and southeasterly direction. The exact boundaries of the search area in Moerdijk will be determined in the Administrative Consultation on the Multi-Year Program for Infrastructure, Spatial Planning, and Transportation (MIRT) at the end of this year.

The expansion is putting pressure on the quality of life and causing uncertainty among residents and farmers. This calls for a fair and humane approach. Therefore, it has been decided that the expansion of the port area and the Amer region can only proceed if the quality of life and overall well-being are simultaneously, credibly, and structurally strengthened. To continue offering prospects for the future, indexation under the Moerdijk Scheme will be reinstated for owner-occupied homes in the village of Moerdijk.

On November 19, 2025, the city council made a decision regarding the city’s contribution to the administrative consultation on Powerport, which took place on December 1, 2025, with the national government and the province.

The municipality's input to the national government and the province was:

1. Choose the eastern direction as the only sure path to a livable future.  
2. Make a decision in principle regarding the direction of the search for expansion of the port and industrial area. Avoid postponing this decision and ensure that residents and agricultural business owners are provided with clarity.
3. Establish firm agreements on the terms and conditions to ensure that residents' interests are protected and that a humane approach is taken. Everyone must be compensated.

In June 2025, the national government, the province, and the municipality agreed to reach a decision in principle during an administrative consultation on December 1, 2025. This decision in principle would address the direction of the expansion of the Moerdijk port and industrial area, the associated preconditions, and the matters that need to be further elaborated. No decision was made on December 1. The intention is now to do so in June 2026. The decision in principle is a preliminary decision. Following this decision, the plans will be developed in detail.  

If the national government, the province, and the municipality decide in June 2026 that Powerport will, in principle, be built on the site of the village of Moerdijk, a long planning process will still follow.

The municipality has stipulated that, following the decision in June, a comprehensive package of measures must be implemented to provide certainty and support to the residents of Moerdijk and the entire eastern search area. This package will focus on social aspects, maintaining the quality of life in the village, and options for people who wish to leave. Once there is sufficient confidence that this condition has been met, a new phase of planning will begin.

The package of measures will be elaborated in a regional plan, as part of which the national government and the region will, at a minimum, conduct a comprehensive, integrated study. This study will examine, among other things, the development of the area, as well as overall well-being, the environment, and quality of life. This step is expected to take 2 to 3 years (2026–2028). Public participation is an integral part of the process.

Next, the area plan must be incorporated into an amendment to the environmental plan. The environmental plan sets out the specific planning and legal framework. Throughout all these processes, there is ample opportunity for public participation, feedback, and appeals.

• Energy infrastructure is necessary not only to make industry more sustainable but also to supply homes and businesses with electricity. The Moerdijk region’s Powerport serves as a key hub for both national and regional networks.
• Additional space for sustainable and potential new circular industries is important for the Netherlands to remain sustainable and competitive.
• Geopolitical tensions and economic challenges are forcing Europe, the Netherlands, and the Moerdijk Powerport region to reduce their dependence on other countries. That is why it is important to ensure sufficient energy availability on our own and to reuse key raw materials.

Projects that are definitely coming here

• The Port of Moerdijk high- and medium-voltage substation, the Nederwiek III offshore wind project landfall, up to two additional offshore wind project landfalls, the Delta Rhine Corridor, and the 380 kV transmission lines between Rilland and Tilburg and between Geertruidenberg and Krimpen/Crayestein.
• To support autonomous growth and make the industry more sustainable, at least 130 hectares of expansion space are needed in Moerdijk. (Further research will determine whether—and, if so, for which—new forms of (circular) economy additional space can be provided. The installation of cables and pipelines.)
• Water Storage

Projects that are very likely to be implemented here, but for which a decision has yet to be made

• Projects under the Energy Master Plan (electrolysis, large-scale battery storage, expansion of the 380 kV Moerdijk substation) and projects related to the heat transition (geothermal energy and district heating).

Offset Projects

• This still needs to be worked out in more detail. Possible examples include agricultural structural improvements, landscape integration, and projects to enhance quality of life.

The land requirement is based on the technical analysis commissioned by the Design Table and the administrative decision. Some projects are definitely included here, while others still require a decision. All projects have a net estimate of the number of hectares required. Space for water storage has been added to this total. This process resulted in an estimated land requirement of 700 hectares. This includes the land required for cables and pipelines. The technical analysis can be found on the Moerdijk Administrative Information website—under “Agenda”—Appendix 2: Technical Exploration of Land Requirements.

The Moerdijk Powerport region is part of the network of port and industrial clusters of national importance. The national government and the region are conducting a nationwide study to determine whether—and, if so, for which forms of the (circular) economy—additional space can be made available. A decision on this matter will be made by the end of the year.

Space for nature compensation and broad prosperity projects, as well as agricultural structural strengthening, has not yet been included in the land-use requirements but is indeed part of the regional objectives. Discussions are therefore taking place with stakeholders regarding the approach, development directions, and conditions.

The Moerdijk Powerport region is a logical location for this project because it is one of the most strategic locations in the Netherlands in terms of industry, energy, freight transport, and environmental space. With its 380-kV high-voltage substation and associated high-voltage transmission lines, it is one of the most important hubs in the Dutch electricity grid. It is also home to the Netherlands’ most inland seaport-industrial complex, directly connected to waterways, railways, highways, and pipelines. In addition, the region is home to major players in the Dutch energy-intensive industry, and the Amer Power Plant is also located here. This plant is essential for the energy transition and plays a key role in the region’s heat supply. The municipality of Drimmelen, through which many cables, pipelines, and utility corridors run, serves as an important link between the two areas.

• Within the boundaries of the Moerdijk Port and Industrial Area and the Amer region.
• Geertruidenberg: strategic expansion from the Amer Power Plant site in a west/southwest direction (up to Amertak)
• Moerdijk: A general search area has been designated here, extending eastward and southeastward. The exact boundaries of the search area in Moerdijk will be determined at a later date following consultation with the local community.
• The search areas for the routes have already been largely determined.

There is insufficient space available at the existing port and industrial areas in Moerdijk and the Amer region. Expansion is inevitable. In addition, efforts are being made to make better use of the space in existing industrial areas. Anything that fits within the existing sites does not need to be expanded.

In the coming period, we will continue to investigate how much space can be made available “within the boundaries” of the Moerdijk Port and Industrial Area and the Amer region. Initial studies indicate that 20 to 50 hectares of space could potentially be made available in the port and industrial area by relocating or restructuring (parts of) businesses.

This has been investigated. Other port and industrial clusters of national importance are also being considered for similar energy infrastructure and/or space for industrial expansion. So it won’t be here or there, but here and there.

• In the future, the national government and the region intend to allocate space in the port and industrial areas only for activities that align with the strategic profile of the respective ports, and they are also exploring how the existing (environmental) space in the Moerdijk port and industrial cluster can be better utilized for functions that fit the national strategic profile.
• The national government and the region are also developing a national strategic profile for the port and industrial cluster, in coordination with the other port and industrial clusters of national importance.
• Based on this national strategic profile, the parties will jointly determine whether—and, if so, for which—new forms of (circular) economy additional opportunities can be provided.

• There is no other place in the region that has the same location characteristics as Moerdijk: a port directly connected to railways, highways, and pipelines, as well as space for companies with a high environmental classification.
• The study examined areas surrounding existing or planned 380-kV substations and industrial parks located along the waterfront. The study shows that there is insufficient room for expansion in these locations, and that the available space is less suitable than the space in Moerdijk.
• Finally, we see that in many places, industry is having to make way for housing development plans. As a result, there is no space available in the Drechtsteden, Roosendaal, and Tilburg.

If companies were to leave the Amer area or the Moerdijk industrial park, it would become clear whether and how much space this would free up, and how that space could be used for this project.