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We discuss the importance of the DRC for the Netherlands and for our neighbours across the border in conversation with Sasa Janković, project manager for spatial integration at the Dutch Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth, and Gerben van Dijk, strategic local community manager at Gasunie. How does the DRC help strengthen Dutch infrastructure and international collaboration? And also: What does it mean for industry, local authorities and citizens?

Over the coming years, Gasunie subsidiary Hynetwork will be rolling out the national hydrogen network for the Netherlands in various stages.

Construction of the national hydrogen network is well under way and preparations have begun in the eastern Netherlands. Joost de Wijs has been the regional manager for this part of the hydrogen network since 1 March. That means he is the first point of contact for people in the surrounding area, and he ensures that everyone is well informed and that any concerns are shared and addressed. We spoke to him about his work, the project and what people can expect from him.

On 9 October, Dutch Minister for Climate and Energy Rob Jetten sent a more detailed research report on hydrogen quality to the Lower House of Parliament. This report is a follow-up to the earlier quality criteria study from June 2022. The 2022 recommendation was to start by setting a minimum purification degree requirement of 98% (mol%) and evaluate the specifications three years after the hydrogen network is commissioned.

On 5 October, Dutch Minister for Climate and Energy Rob Jetten sent a letter to the Lower House of Parliament about progress in the Delta Rhine Corridor (DRC). The DRC is a cluster of underground pipelines and cables being developed in the pipeline corridor that runs from Rotterdam via Moerdijk to South Limburg and on to Germany.

On Wednesday 9 July, we welcomed future customers to our construction site in Vilsteren, near Ommen. Here, at the site where we are already working on converting the natural gas network for hydrogen transport, we gathered with stakeholders from across the value chain to showcase what we are doing in the region. Representatives from RWE, ENGIE, Equinor, VoltH2, Lhyfe, HyStock and GETEC were present.

Energy infrastructure company Gasunie has taken the investment decision for the first part of its national hydrogen network. Gasunie board member Hans Coenen announced this today during the Hydrogen Europe Summer Market in Brussels. The investment of this first section exceeds €100 million and is being developed by Gasunie's subsidiary Hynetwork Services. Work will start after the summer in Rotterdam. This nationwide hydrogen network, which will cost around €1.5 billion, will connect major industrial regions in the Netherlands and surrounding countries, such as Germany and Belgium, from 2030 onwards. In addition, the network will have connections to import terminals at seaports, domestic hydrogen production and large-scale hydrogen storage facilities. Last year, Hynetwork Services was commissioned by the government to develop the hydrogen network.

In April 2022, Hynetwork Services presented a consultation version of the transport and connection contracts that parties must sign to gain access to the future national hydrogen network.

Hynetwork is considering several potential route options at various locations for Hydrogen Network Western Netherlands. In total, four options are being evaluated in the area north of Lekkerkerk, near the Waalbos and the Kijfhoek railway marshalling yard. These options have emerged from consultations with local stakeholders and technical studies.

Laying new pipelines or retrofitting current natural gas pipelines is not a simple matter. Before starting any work, we want to know exactly what is going on underground. We also carefully assess the impact of the pipeline on the surrounding area. That is why in recent years we have worked together with Antea Group to carry out condition assessments. Jan Rolf Staal is technical specialist for soil and conditions for Hydrogen Network North Sea Canal Area at Hynetwork. He tells us what condition assessments are, why they are needed, what stage we have reached with them and what we do with the results.

De voorbereidingen voor de aanleg van de eerste 32 kilometer waterstofpijpleiding van de Maasvlakte naar Pernis liggen op schema. De omgevingsdienst DCMR (Dienst Centraal Milieubeheer Rijnmond) doet onderzoek naar de verwachte impact van alle waterstofplannen in de regio op het milieu. Axel Pel, programmamanager Verduurzaming Industrie bij DCMR, licht het standpunt van de Milieudienst Rijnmond toe over de nieuwe leiding en over waterstof als groene brandstof. 'We rollen de groene loper uit voor duurzame initiatieven.'

Rens Wilbers steps back, Stephan Tiemessen steps up In the coming years, Hynetwork will be working to build a future-proof hydrogen network in the southwest Netherlands . That project plays a key role in the energy transition and is taking shape one step at a time, in collaboration with the local community.

A groundbreaking Joint Development Agreement (JDA) has been signed to establish the world’s first liquid hydrogen import corridor, connecting the Sultanate of Oman, the Netherlands, and Germany. This corridor will link the port of Duqm in Oman, the port of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and key logistics hubs in Germany, including the port of Duisburg in Germany, enabling the commercial-scale import of renewable fuel of non-biological origin (RFNBO) compliant liquid hydrogen to Europe. The agreement was signed during the state visit by His Majesty the Sultan of Oman to the Netherlands.

How will the construction of a new hydrogen pipeline affect agricultural land? That is what farmers wanted to know after we presented our initial plans for the Hydrogen Network Western Netherlands project. The farmers had questions about yield losses, permanent damage to the soil and compensation. We spoke to Roburt Honkoop, Land Affairs Adviser at Hynetwork, about these concerns and questions.

Hynetwork is developing the national hydrogen network based on the rollout plan published in mid-2022 by the then Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate (EZK). In 2023, based on insights gained, we proposed an adjustment to the rollout plan and held a market consultation. We incorporated the responses in the revised version of the roll-out plan that we submitted to the ministry before Christmas last year. This revised version of the rollout plan was not adopted by the minister at the time because of developments in the Delta Rhine Corridor (DRC). As a result of the ongoing decision-making process around the DRC, we indicated in summer 2024 that we would come back with an update of the rollout plan by the end of 2024 that would also take into account the latest insights into the development of other parts of the network. This proposal to change the roll-out plan was published on 10 December 2024 .

The energy transition in the Netherlands must advance rapidly. With our infrastructure, we want to help industries become sustainable in the Netherlands. This will keep us an competitive location for industry, which is also good for our economy and employment. The development of all these transition projects will benefit from clarity on the availability of infrastructure. That is why Hynetwork (a subsidiary of Gasunie) is currently working hard to update the roll-out plan for the Dutch hydrogen network. This is necessary partly due to developments around the Delta Rhine Corridor (in Dutch) . In the webinar on 4 July 2024 , we explained that this update also anticipates shifts in the development of other routes. Although this round of updates will not be completed until the end of the year, we are giving you an early update now.

On 29 June 2022, former Minister for Climate and Energy Rob Jetten announced the plans for the construction of a national transport network for hydrogen. As a subsidiary of Gasunie, Hynetwork was commissioned to build the hydrogen network in the Netherlands and subsequently assume the role of hydrogen network operator.

The hydrogen network in the Netherlands is an important part of the energy transition. To build this network, we will reuse existing natural gas pipelines and construct new ones. These new pipelines are installed underground. There are different techniques to do this. Below, you can read more about the four most used installation methods. You can also watch animations that explain these techniques.

Installing a hydrogen pipeline temporarily requires additional space. This is where people and machinery operate, materials are stored and construction activities take place. We call this temporary area the work site.

Municipality, province and businesses explore opportunities for a regional offtake point together with Hynetwork Hydrogen has been on the radar of both the Municipality of Oosterhout and businesses located at the Weststad industrial estate for quite some time. 'Hydrogen is an opportunity we do not want to miss,' says Anneke van Omme, Strategic Sustainability Advisor at the Municipality of Oosterhout. 'We can see that the electricity grid is reaching its limits. In that case, it is important to have alternatives available for companies that require high process temperatures.'

For the Hydrogen Network North Sea Canal Area, new hydrogen pipelines will be constructed and an existing natural gas pipeline will be repurposed for hydrogen transport. Part of this work will take place in areas with trees, shrubs and parks, including locations near Velsen and Beverwijk.Nancy Willems, Regional Manager, explains how Hynetwork approaches this work and how residents will be invited to help shape the restoration of affected green spaces.

After years of research, design work and engagement with the local area, the Hydrogen Network North Sea Canal Area project is entering a new phase. From Friday 18 September to Thursday 29 October 2026, the draft project decision, the Phase 2 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the draft permits will be available for review. During this period, everyone can submit their views on the plans. Zhen Zhen Zheng, Regional Manager, has been involved in the project from the very beginning. She explains what this milestone means.

In a letter to the Dutch parliament dated Wednesday 23 September, the Minister of Climate and Green Growth once again emphasised the importance of hydrogen for a competitive, climate-neutral and resilient economy. The national hydrogen network plays a key part and, according to the government, is needed to kick-start the hydrogen market. “Companies can only invest if they have certainty about the network,” explained the minister. The government is therefore endeavouring to create more clarity on amortisation by the end of this year. This is a new financing model that will ensure affordable tariffs for hydrogen transmission. A decision about amortisation is needed in the short term for further development of the hydrogen transmission network and the hydrogen market.

Last spring, everyone had the opportunity to respond to the draft research plan for Hydrogen Network Western Netherlands. We received 70 responses, as well as seven identical responses. These included proposals and points of attention that may lead to adjustments to the potential routes. We are taking the time to carefully assess these proposals and considerations. As a result, we now expect to publish the final research plan by the end of 2026.