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We are currently working on an important next step for Hydrogen Network Drenthe Overijssel. Recently, surveys have been carried out along the preferred route, and we have held discussions with landowners, public authorities and representatives from the local area. The applications for the permits we need have been submitted, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy is preparing the draft project decision. It describes what the hydrogen network will look like, where the pipeline will be laid and which surveys have been carried out. It also explains how the local area and the natural environment have been taken into account. The draft project decision, together with the draft permits, is expected to be published for public inspection in October 2026. The documents will then be available for anyone to review and comment on.

Kelvin Peperkoorn and Heleen Sarink know the landscape and soil of the northern Netherlands well by now. They have learned where protected species are found, which waterways will be crossed and where drilling is preferable to excavation. For more than a year, they have been working on phase 2 of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) – the phase in which the preferred route of the hydrogen network is worked out in detail. Construction will not begin until an official project decision has been taken, which is expected in 2027. In this interview, Kelvin and Heleen explain which studies are needed and why they are essential to that decision.

In December 2024, we published the new proposal to update the roll-out plan. Stakeholders had until 31 January to respond to this proposal. We would like to sincerely thank all those who made the effort to submit a response. We will keep your responses confidential and will not publish them or share them with third parties.

We recently organised two working sessions about the new hydrogen pipeline that will be laid in the western Netherlands. Together with more than 50 representatives from the province, municipalities, water boards, cable and pipeline owners and other stakeholders, we looked at the possible routes for the new-build section of the hydrogen pipeline. Juanne Rours, regional manager for the project, briefly explains what the working sessions produced.

Hynetwork is investigating several potential routes for the new hydrogen pipeline that will be laid between Zuidbroek and Mijnsheerenland as part of the Hydrogen Network Western Netherlands project. It is a challenging task: the area is densely developed, with many residential areas, roads and motorways, rivers, and nature and recreation areas.

Before the Preferred Alternative was adopted, we invited the local community and stakeholders to share their views on the proposed route. The draft Preferred Alternative was available for public consultation from 7 November to 18 December 2025. During this period, around 120 people attended three information meetings. In total, we received 31 responses from residents, businesses, municipalities and organisations.

“…you can’t help but feel proud when you see that we have delivered something of such high quality in Rotterdam’s pipeline corridor.” We are building the hydrogen network in the Netherlands step by step. Wherever possible, we make use of existing infrastructure, while maintaining the highest standards of safety and minimising our impact on the surrounding environment. In doing so, we are helping to ensure a reliable energy supply, both now and in the future.

The first part of the Dutch hydrogen network will run from the planned hydrogen plant at Maasvlakte 2 (a new extension of the Port of Rotterdam) to the Shell Pernis refinery. This is an extraordinary operation that involves a great deal of work.

The World Hydrogen Exhibition is the place where the global hydrogen industry comes together. From 20 to 21 May, WHS serves as the leading platform for the hydrogen sector and brings together international decision-makers in Rotterdam each year.

The vast majority of the national transport network for hydrogen will consist of pipelines that were previously used for natural gas transport. Re-use is technically possible, reliable and safe. In Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, a converted natural gas pipeline for hydrogen transport has been in use for three years now.

"Challenging, complex – and exciting!" Step by step, we’re creating the hydrogen network that will power the Netherlands for generations to come. Wherever possible, we repurpose existing pipelines, always with the highest standards of safety and care for the environment. Our goal? A reliable energy supply – today and tomorrow.

Gasunie is responsible for the safe and reliable transport of gas, which is why we inspect every pipe approximately once every 10 years. We do that with a ‘pig’. Project manager Derk Burema explains how pigging works.

The Delta Rhine Corridor energy infrastructure project will focus on building the infrastructure for hydrogen and CO 2 . This was announced today by the Dutch Minister for Climate Policy and Green Growth Sophie Hermans in a letter to the Dutch House of Representatives. With this decision, the government is responding positively to the wish of the market and the House of Representatives to realise the hydrogen and CO 2 infrastructure with great urgency. Industry needs these pipelines to make it more sustainable in the short term. Read the full text of the letter to Parliament (in Dutch).

Nature and Environment Federation South Holland (NMZH) has no doubts that the port of Rotterdam takes the energy transition seriously. According to NMZH, the hydrogen pipe is indispensable for that transition. This does not mean that the environmental organization does not take a critical look at the construction. Alex Ouwehand explains this.

Do you want to become a connected party? And did you already send us a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and an Expression of Interest (EoI)? If so, you can sign a Connection Study Agreement (CSA) from today. This agreement was previously announced by Anouk van den Berg, Commercial Manager Waterstofnetwerk Nederland, during the market update event on 29 June.

Over the past year, Hynetwork Services, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK) and the market, has worked hard to develop the Hydrogen Network Netherlands. Hynetwork Services has started various permitting processes as part of the Government Coordination Scheme. Progress has been made on the agreements with market parties, and the first ground will be broken in Rotterdam after the summer! This will mark a significant starting point for the development of national and international hydrogen chains.

Hoe de absolute prioriteit aan veiligheid uitwerkt in de praktijk is te zien aan de regels voor de werkzaamheden in Rotterdam. Hier is de aanleg van het eerste waterstofnetwerk gestart met een 32 kilometer lange buisleiding van Maasvlakte II en Conversiepark I naar het Shell Pernis terrein.

In December 2024, Gasunie subsidiary Hynetwork published the new proposal to amend the roll-out plan for the realization of the hydrogen network. Stakeholders had until January 31 to respond to this proposal. We received nearly 60 responses from producers, customers, industry associations, governments, foreign companies and network operators, representatives for industrial clusters and port authorities.

A webinar on the development of a national transport network for hydrogen was held on Friday 15 October with the cooperation of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Change, Hynetwork Services and PwC.

The HyRegions study was published on 30 May. Among other things, it reveals where a demand for hydrogen might arise and possibly become concentrated in the Netherlands outside the five industrial clusters. Read more (in Dutch).

Hynetwork (Hynetwork Services B.V.) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gasunie. We are building a nationwide hydrogen network in the Netherlands. This network will enable industry to switch from fossil fuels to more sustainable raw materials and fuels.

That is why Hynetwork is working to develop this infrastructure, starting with industrial clusters. Why start there? Because of the way industrial clusters are structured and the role they play in the energy system.

In the online session of the 22nd of April 2022 we informed the market about the current status of the design of the contracts, the political frameworks and the consultation process. The consultation closed on 17 May 2022 and feedback is currently being processed. We would like to thank you for participating in the consultation and providing feedback on the contracts.

A decision on the Delta Rhine Corridor was taken recently and provided clarity about a target completion date for this important east-west connection for the hydrogen network. We must act swiftly to provide sufficient opportunities for industry in the Netherlands and abroad to become more sustainable. Certainty about the schedule and availability of the hydrogen network is important here. We are pleased that we can now proceed with project development for the hydrogen network in the Netherlands and offer the market more clarity about our schedule. Until 31 January 2025, we will be accepting comments about the new proposal to change the roll-out plan.