Quality of life

We are involved in developing new, renewable fuels. Think of synthetic kerosene, which could play a significant role in making the aviation industry more sustainable.

Berths for barges, passenger ships and fishing boats are all equipped with shore power connections. This is better for the environment and prevents noise pollution. We support European regulations for the compulsory use of shore power. And we encourage vessel operators to use LNG instead of diesel by offering an additional discount on their harbour dues.

Our Port is surrounded by Natura 2000 nature protection areas. These include the North Sea Coastal Area and the Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve. These areas are protected because of their biodiversity and abundant plant varieties and animal species.

Biodiversity in the Port continues to be improved with the addition of ecological corridors, a protective wall for swallows, fish-spawning areas, natural ponds and bat boxes. Area management policies are focused on keeping animals’ breeding places intact as much as possible, which has improved plant biodiversity in the process.

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Five permanent measuring stations located in the greater port area measure air quality on an ongoing basis. Measurements by the Public Health Service of Amsterdam (GGD) and the Bureau Luchtkwaliteit air quality agency provide us with information on air quality in our port area.

Average levels of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM10) in the port area are comfortably within the standard of 40 μg/m3. While no standard limit has been set for sulphur, these levels are relatively low and have fallen over the past five years. However, we continue to monitor concentrations on a quarterly basis. This way we can quickly detect any changes and intervene if necessary.

A large-scale liveability survey was conducted among residents and recreational users of the North Sea Canal Area. This revealed that, while the port and local industry do cause some degree of inconvenience, this has a very limited impact on the liveability in the residential areas and public perception of the recreational areas. The survey found that residents and recreational users perceive airplane noise as the main source of nuisance.