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The story of Milieuwerk began in 1992, with the aim of giving people from Amsterdam’s Spaarndammerbuurt a fair chance at meaningful work. Electrical appliances from across the city were collected and sorted at Milieuwerk, just outside Amsterdam. Today, the company is located in the Port of Amsterdam and employs 120 people who, as David Jansen (41), Director of Milieuwerk and the Recycling Service Centre (RSC), puts it: “struggle to find or keep a job on their own.”

In 25 years, the Netherlands aims to have a fully circular economy. But how is the transition progressing? According to James Hallworth, Commercial Manager Circular Economy at Port of Amsterdam, it’s moving far too slowly: “Globally, we’re only at around eight percent. In the Netherlands, we’re fortunately closer to 25 percent, but there’s still a long way to go to reach the target of 50 percent by 2030. Current geopolitical tensions could actually be a major driver for accelerating the shift toward a circular economy.”

On Monday, March 10, the new offshore installation vessel from Dutch company Van Oord arrived at TMA Logistics in the Port of Amsterdam. To reach its destination, the massive vessel—175 meters long and 63 meters wide—had to navigate through the world’s largest sea lock in IJmuiden, an impressive sight. In Amsterdam, the final outfitting and commissioning work will be completed before the Boreas departs for its first offshore wind project. So far, the Boreas is the widest vessel to have passed through the IJmuiden Sea Lock.

From 1 January 2025, there will be a restriction on the use of open-loop scrubbers for seagoing vessels in the port of Amsterdam. Open-loop scrubbers discharge polluted washing water into our port waters. By this ban, we contribute to a cleaner marine environment.

Together with around fifty other maritime parties, ports, and shipping companies, we signed a Call to Action during the week of COP29 to accelerate the use of zero-emission fuels in shipping. The aim is to make at least 5 percent, and preferably 10 percent, of shipping fuels emission-free by 2030.

Recent years have shown that climate change also has its effects on inland shipping. Both high and low tides can disrupt inland navigation. Effects can include not being able to sail in January because the Oranjesluis was blocked, or sailing with less cargo per ship.