2025 annual review: from preparation to construction, working on the Dutch hydrogen network together

2025 was also a year defined by collaboration. Gasunie took significant steps together with market participants in the industrial clusters and in other countries: we signed an agreement with Thyssengas H2 and Gasunie Deutschland for the construction of cross-border hydrogen infrastructure. Together, we are moving forward with the realisation of a European hydrogen market.

Start of three new procedures: East, West and Delta Rhine Corridor

In 2025, the project procedures for the hydrogen networks in the eastern and western regions of the Netherlands were launched with the announcement of the plans for these regions. The Delta Rhine Corridor was relaunched, with a new plan and research plan being published in September. We organised webinars and evening drop-ins – in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth – where we informed people from the communities in the vicinity of the future hydrogen network in the various regions about the plans and answered their questions. They were also given the opportunity to voice concerns and present their ideas.

Route for the northern region of the Netherlands is set

The preferred route (the preferred alternative) has been set for both the Groningen Hydrogen Network and the Drenthe Overijssel Hydrogen Network, and the Preparation Decision has been adopted. With the Preparation Decision, the land along the route for the hydrogen pipelines has been reserved for 1.5 years. People are now hard at work on the final design, the final version of the environmental impact assessment, and the permit applications. And preparations for project implementation are already underway, too. We are working together with the contractors responsible for pipeline construction and conversion in the northern region of the Netherlands in a collaboration that neatly combines knowledge and experience.

North Sea Canal area: from the chosen route to the technical details

The route for the hydrogen network in the North Sea Canal area was set towards the end of 2024. This year, the environmental impact of works along this route was studied further. We also prepared permit applications and held discussions with landowners and land users on whose property a section of the hydrogen pipeline is planned to be built. Furthermore, working together with engineering firms, we recently successfully completed the detailed design for the hydrogen network.

‘On the road to hydrogen’ in the south-western region

The proposed route for the south-western region of the Netherlands (the province of Zeeland and the western part of Noord-Brabant) was announced in November. With the ‘On the road to hydrogen’ campaign (in Dutch), we highlighted various topics in a series of videos and explained what we are already doing to prepare for the construction of the hydrogen network. In 2025, we carried out various surveys of the soil, nature, ecology and other aspects. We optimised the design and coordinated it with water company Evides, who will also be installing a water pipeline in the same area. We also spoke with all landowners and land users in the central region of Zeeland whose property will be affected by the construction of a section of the new pipeline, and we prepared permit applications.

Hydrogen network in Limburg: the launch is fast approaching

The Limburg Hydrogen Network project procedure will get underway in January 2026. Preparations are already in full swing. The launch of this procedure will be of significant importance, marking the point at which the procedures for all sub-projects for the Dutch hydrogen network have commenced.

Building a robust hydrogen market

Publication of the Letter to Parliament ‘Hydrogen transmission network and distribution networks’

On the afternoon of Thursday 18 December, the Letter to Parliament, ‘Hydrogen transmission network and distribution networks’, was published. The letter reaffirms the indisputable role that hydrogen and a national hydrogen network play in the energy transition. The Dutch government endorses the recommendations made by the Netherlands Court of Audit in its report dated 9 December and is working on solutions to ensure stable, predictable tariffs for market participants, including by studying intertemporal cost allocation. Furthermore, the government expects to formally decide on the revised rollout plan for our national hydrogen network in 2026, along with a decision on applying the principle of intertemporal cost allocation with an amortisation fund. In the meantime, we continue working on the rollout plan and remain fully committed to connecting hydrogen producers, importers and customers, both in the Netherlands and abroad. See the Letter to Parliament.

Gasunie and Thyssengas sign agreement for first cross-border hydrogen transport infrastructure between the Netherlands and Germany

Gasunie’s Dutch subsidiary Hynetwork, Thyssengas H2 (subsidiary of German TSO Thyssengas) and Gasunie Deutschland plan to develop cross-border hydrogen transport infrastructure between the Netherlands and Germany and have signed an agreement for the joint realisation of this infrastructure. Read the news item.

German hydrogen transmission capacity reservation rules bring operational planning certainty to the hydrogen market; Dutch and Danish markets also benefit

German grid operators have announced that, starting in 2026, companies can reserve hydrogen transmission capacity through what’s called an ‘open season’. This arrangement offers producers, traders and customers certainty about their future capacity at an early stage, which in turn encourages investments in the hydrogen market. Read the news item.

Inform, coordinate and accelerate: sessions with market participants

In the last quarter of 2025, we held our second series of information sessions with market participants in the industrial clusters. Together, we explored how we can further intensify collaboration, including by sharing expertise and information with each other. We will continue these sessions in 2026. Read the news item.

We would like to thank everyone for their contribution to the progress we made in 2025, and we look forward with confidence to further collaboration in 2026. Together, we are building a reliable, sustainable hydrogen network!