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Laying a hydrogen pipeline is no simple matter, especially in an area as densely built-up and diverse as the North Sea Canal Area, where infrastructure, water, nature, industry and residential areas all intersect. Behind the scenes, intensive work has therefore been underway for years to ensure that construction proceeds carefully, safely and in accordance with all regulations. Zoë Heerema, permits adviser at Hynetwork, plays an important role in this process.

Today, the deadline for feedback on the draft proposal for the adjustment of the roll-out plan has passed. We thank everyone for their submitted responses. In our final proposal for the adjustment of the roll-out plan, we will outline how the feedback has been incorporated. We will submit the final proposal, along with a request for approval, to the Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK).

A new pipeline for transporting hydrogen will be built in the Amsterdam port area as part of Hydrogen Network North Sea Canal Area. We recently carried out the final studies for the port area, which was an important step towards the final design.

His Majesty the King symbolically activated the first section of the national hydrogen network in Rotterdam on Wednesday, 20 May. Together with Minister Stientje van Veldhoven of Climate and Green Growth and Gasunie CEO Willemien Terpstra, the King marked the completion of the first pipeline segment in the Port of Rotterdam: a 32-kilometre pipeline connecting the Maasvlakte and Pernis. This marks an important milestone in the development of a Dutch and European hydrogen infrastructure.

A small section of the potential route near Donckse Velden in Ridderkerk presents a number of challenges. As a result, Hynetwork is exploring several route options within a study area between Bolnes and Slikkerveer. Regional Manager Juanne Rours explains why this is necessary.

Recently, a specialised inspection was carried out on an existing natural gas pipeline that is part of the Hydrogen Network North Sea Canal Area and Hydrogen Network Western Netherlands projects. This pipeline is being prepared for a new future: transporting hydrogen. But how do we ensure that a pipeline can be used for hydrogen? The first step is to assess the condition of the pipes. Pigging engineer Patrick de Vries explains how this process works.

His Majesty the King will perform the starting ceremony for the construction of the first part of the national hydrogen network on the Tweede Maasvlakte in Rotterdam on the afternoon of Friday 27 October.

Building a hydrogen network requires working in an area where people, industry and nature coexist in close proximity. That is why we not only focus on engineering and safety when constructing the hydrogen network, but also on everything that grows, blooms, flies and walks. Ecology is a key part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) . Stijn Nollen, ecology adviser at Gasunie, explains how we are taking great care to protect nature during the construction of Hydrogen Network North Sea Canal Area.

On Thursday 29 June, Hynetwork Services and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate organised a Market update event for (future) customers. We look back on a well-attended meeting with 110 people in the room and around 90 online participants.

Gasunie has plans to gradually convert the natural gas network into a hydrogen network. After all, having a sustainable energy system means that we must move away from natural gas as a fossil fuel. The expectation is that hydrogen will take its place. But is converting the natural gas grid to hydrogen economically and technically feasible? Does it deliver climate benefits? And, first and foremost, is it safe?

‘The hydrogen network is bringing positive developments to the entire region, and we need to make them even more visible to residents.’ Hynetwork (a subsidiary of Gasunie) is building a hydrogen network in the southwest of the Netherlands. That network will be used to supply industry in Zeeland with hydrogen and make it more sustainable. We spoke to Maarten den Dekker, executive board member at North Sea Port, about the importance of the hydrogen network for the region.

The development of the national hydrogen network will mainly use existing natural gas pipelines. These will become available as less and less natural gas transport occurs in the coming years.

Hynetwork will be linking the Dutch hydrogen network with Germany and Belgium over the next few years. ‘We’ve signed the first two agreements in a series of what will ultimately be seven cross-border connections with our neighbours,’ explains Harry Smit, who is responsible for cross-border hydrogen connections at Gasunie subsidiary Hynetwork.

Hynetwork completes first connection of major hydrogen plant to Dutch hydrogen network Gasunie subsidiary Hynetwork has connected the first hydrogen plant to the Dutch hydrogen network. The customer connection’s so-called ‘golden weld’ was made between the 200 MW Holland Hydrogen 1 plant at the Rotterdam Maasvlakte and the hydrogen pipeline. The connection work was performed by contractor Hanab. This is the first time a green hydrogen producer has been connected directly to the national hydrogen infrastructure. It is a huge milestone for the project team, as this is the first time a green hydrogen producer has been connected directly to the national network.

In early March, Hynetwork began preparatory work at the Gasunie facility in Vilsteren. We aim to convert an existing natural gas pipeline from Tjuchem (province of Groningen) to Ommen. As part of the preparations, we are currently constructing a bypass for the transport of natural gas. This allows us to safely convert the existing pipeline for hydrogen transport once the hydrogen network can be realized in the region.

Hynetwork Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gasunie, is developing a new hydrogen pipeline in the Port of Rotterdam. This pipeline will be the backbone of the local hydrogen infrastructure and the first piece of Hydrogen Network Netherlands. On 27 October, His Majesty the King gave the green light for construction.

Van de 32 kilometer waterstofleiding die we in het Rotterdamse havengebied aanleggen, gaat het grootste deel diep de in de grond inMost of the 32 kilometres of hydrogen pipeline that we are laying in the Rotterdam port area will be buried deep in the ground. The only exception is at Welplaatweg, where a pipeline viaduct will carry the pipes high above the ground.

In the last three months of this year, we organised information sessions with market parties in the clusters for the second time. The aim was to inform them about the progress of the hydrogen network, exchange knowledge and stimulate discussion. We look back on a number of productive sessions in Limburg, the North Sea Canal Area and Rotterdam. We will continue the information sessions in the other clusters in 2026.

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 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.