Overview
- The national government, Province of Zuid-Holland, Rotterdam municipality, Havenbedrijf Rotterdam and Deltalinqs jointly produced the routekaart and the cabinet confirmed €50 million in the budget Thursday to pay for nature-restoration measures.
- The work targets four nearby Natura 2000 dune areas — Meijendel & Berkheide, Westduinpark & Wapendal, Solleveld & Kapittelduinen, and Voornes Duin — with steps such as boosting rabbit populations, removing invasive species and improving hydrology.
- Authorities will update and legally tighten management plans so that improved on-the-ground ecology provides a stronger legal footing for future permit decisions but does not guarantee individual approvals.
- The partners aim to finalize measures, updated plans and implementation agreements by the end of 2026, with the routekaart intended to allow a partial resumption of permitting from early 2027 for qualifying projects.
- Significant constraints will remain for many projects because about one-third already face electricity-grid capacity limits and the port also faces physical space shortages that the routekaart does not address.