King opens first 32 kilometres of the Dutch hydrogen network in Rotterdam

On the afternoon of Wednesday 20 May, King Willem-Alexander will attend the official opening of the first section of Gasunie's national hydrogen network. The ceremony takes place at the Schiecentrale in Rotterdam. Together with Minister Van Veldhoven of Climate and Green Growth, the King will symbolically activate the network. More than eighteen months after construction began — also marked by a royal ceremony — this represents the first concrete milestone in the Netherlands' hydrogen infrastructure.

From fossil gas to hydrogen: the same pipes, different content

The 32-kilometre pipeline connects the Tweede Maasvlakte to industrial users in the Rotterdam port area around Pernis. Large-scale hydrogen producers on the Maasvlakte — including Shell's Holland Hydrogen I electrolyser — can now deliver their hydrogen to industry via this network.

A large part of the network has been built by repurposing existing natural gas pipelines for hydrogen transport. This makes the approach cost-effective: the Netherlands has an extensive underground gas infrastructure that, as natural gas use declines, is being progressively converted into a hydrogen network.

Hydrogen as feedstock and fuel for industry

The hydrogen network is primarily designed for industrial use. Chemical complexes, refineries and other energy-intensive sectors currently rely largely on fossil-derived or grey hydrogen. The new network enables that supply to be gradually replaced by green or other carbon-free hydrogen — with no CO₂ emissions at the point of use.

Industry accounts for around 25 percent of the Netherlands' national CO₂ emissions. For many industrial processes, electrification alone is not a viable route; hydrogen as feedstock and fuel is indispensable for decarbonising those sectors.

Rollout to 2033 and connections to Belgium and Germany

The first 32-kilometre section is the starting point of a much larger network. Gasunie subsidiary Hynetwork Services is developing a total infrastructure of 1,200 kilometres, connecting the five major industrial clusters in the Netherlands and linking to networks in Belgium and Germany.

The original target of a complete network by 2030 has been revised to 2033 at the latest. This reflects permitting timelines, the need to develop the hydrogen market further, and the importance of improving investment conditions for industry. Market parties have signalled their willingness to maintain momentum, on the condition that the government continues to actively stimulate the hydrogen market.

Gasunie also recently signed an agreement with Belgian grid operator Fluxys for a cross-border hydrogen connection — a concrete step towards the European hydrogen backbone.

Infrastructure that matters

The opening on 20 May is more than a ceremonial moment. It marks the transition from plans and prototypes to physical infrastructure that actually transports hydrogen. For industry in the Port of Rotterdam, it is the first tangible step towards a sustainable energy supply without fossil fuels.

Sources:

• Gasunie press release (23 April 2026): gasunie.nl
• Royal House of the Netherlands – start of hydrogen network construction (October 2023): koninklijkhuis.nl
• Gasunie – Hydrogen Network Netherlands (project page, 2025–2026): gasunie.nl/en/projects/hydrogen-network-netherlands
• Gasunie – Fluxys agreement on Netherlands-Belgium hydrogen connection (April 2026): gasunie.nl