One of the largest chemical clusters

Moreover, one of the largest chemical clusters in northwestern Europe is located in Zeeland, where the entire industry sector employs nearly 25,000 people, many of them for the chemical industry and others for maintenance companies or for maintenance services. The port and industrial areas in Vlissingen and the Zeeuws-Vlaanderen Canal zone between Ghent and Terneuzen are the engine behind the Zeeland economy.

The main reason for the strong representation of the chemical industry in Zeeland is its superior infrastructure.

Major chemical players chose Zeeland

Major players in the worldwide chemicals industry, such as Dow, Yara and ICL-IP, benefit from the strategic location, superior logistics infrastructure and the many synergies created here.

These assets make the Netherlands a smart choice for chemical companies looking to expand or accelerate their business operations.

All you need to know about chemical & process industry in Zeeland

Why Zeeland is the hotspot for chemical and process industries

Here we give you the most important reasons why Zeeland is the hotspot for chemical and process industries.

Zeeland has one of the largest chemical clusters in Northwestern Europe. The Canal zone situated between Gent and Terneuzen is home to a large number of chemical companies including world players Dow Chemical Company, Yara and Arkema. The fact that the Dow Benelux branch in Terneuzen is the largest production facility outside the US is for good reason.

Petrochemical industry

Zeeland is also one of the leading regions within the petrochemical industry for the production and transfer of fertilizer with companies such as Rosier and Plantacote.

Why Zeeland

The main reason for the strong representation of the chemical industry in Zeeland is its superior infrastructure. This comprises roads, (freight) railways and waterways, as well as telecommunications, a highly reliable energy supply and an underground pipeline network. Another important factor is the presence of one of the most important ports in the Netherlands - Zeeland Seaports. The fact that companies can directly access a quay from where they transport goods via inland shipping or the North Sea is a huge advantage.

Strong cluster

It is beneficial for companies to be part of a strong cluster of companies as it allows them to use existing facilities, service providers, knowledge and education that provide them with skilled labor. Added to this, the presence of other similar successful companies shows that the location is a good breeding ground for business enterprise in this sector.

For industrial companies, direct access to deep water from the Zeeland ports is a great asset. Excellent, congestion-free hinterland connections via water, road and rail, are also very important and plus points when it comes to cost-effective transportation of raw materials and (end) products.

Zeeland is an ideal location for companies that need large quantities of raw materials for their production process and depend on water for the supply of raw materials. Plus, there is also enough space for production and storage of finished products. The port area in Vlissingen and Terneuzen is home to a variety of industrial activities and is ideal for the transportation of goods by water, road and rail. The North Sea Port port area in the Canal zone between Ghent and Terneuzen has deep-water harbours, space, infrastructure and superior support services.

The Valuepark Terneuzen in a nutshell:

  • Superior location
  • Synergy between maintenance and logistics
  • Benefit from the facilities of the neighboring company Dow Benelux

he Valuepark is the ideal location for chemical production and distribution. The business park covers an area of 140 hectares and is aimed at companies with a clear added value for the chemical industry. Currently, there are about 80 ha available on site, with the possibility of co-location. The park is situated next to Biopark Terneuzen, which promotes and facilitates the exploitation of important synergies between companies in the same geographic area.

Location

This is the perfect base for companies looking to enter the European market or to expand their position on this market. Located at the mouth of the Western Scheldt, between the world ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, Terneuzen offers chemical producers and distributors cost-effective facilities.

Connections

The Valuepark’s favorable location is attractive for businesses and is directly connected to major markets and suppliers via road, rail, inland waterways and seaports. In fact, Valuepark Terneuzen has all the requisite facilities to become a major European hub for the chemicals industry and offers great opportunities for partnerships. The park is also connected to the adjacent Dow Benelux through a pipeline network.

Businesses

In the meantime the park is already home to several storage and transshipment companies such as Vos Logistics and Katoen Natie. Other companies like Oil Tanking have also located to Valuepark, where Bertschi operates a rail terminal.

The Maintenance Valuepark (MVP) focuses on developing, accessing and distributing knowledge and services relating to maintenance services in the process industry. The MVP is strategically located, east of the Westerschelde tunnel and a mere stone's throw from Dow Benelux in Terneuzen. This means it is centrally located in the largest chemical cluster in Western Europe situated in the Dutch-Flemish Delta. The MVP comprises the Knowledge and Innovation Center (KI <), the Learning Work Environment (LWO) and a business park.

Centre of excellence

The business park is in fact a center of excellence for maintenance services and services geared to the process industry. Clustering not only generates a cost advantage, but is also an important boost for innovation.

The focus is mainly on creating new network connections between contractors, engineering companies, the process industry and knowledge institutes. The cooperation focuses on innovation, training and knowledge sharing.

Maintenance

With a large chemical and process industry cluster and the proximity of several large wind farms at sea, maintenance is of crucial importance for Zeeland. Increasingly, maintenance work in the process industry is outsourced or carried out in combination with a fixed group of specialized maintenance companies.

Consequently, over time an increasing number of service providers have located permanently on the major chemical and petrochemical complexes of their customers. For instance, about 25 maintenance companies are active every day at the site of Dow Benelux in Terneuzen. Many of these providers have their own offices, workshops, transport vehicles and support facilities. The maintenance parks have gradually grown together with local factories and usually comprise temporary buildings.

However, this typical practice of locating maintenance companies in the business areas of companies in the process industry has a negative effect in the form of limited knowledge sharing, development and growth. Which explains why the Maintenance Valuepark Terneuzen (MVP) was developed.

Smart Delta Resources (SDR) is an initiative of eleven energy and raw materials intensive companies looking to reduce their level of consumption through industrial symbiosis. SDR helps companies from the chemical, steel, energy and food industries to work together to establish industrial connections and turn them into interesting business cases. Although industrial symbiosis between the various sectors in the region starts out from economic optimization, it also contributes to the sustainability of their processes. Indeed, this cooperation contributes to our national objectives for sustainable economic development, reduction of greenhouse gases such as CO₂ and a decrease in the use of fossil resources.

Companies active in the Chemical and process industry in Zeeland

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Establishing your chemical company in Zeeland?

The chemical sector faces challenges, but above all many opportunities in this region. We help you to capitalize on those opportunities.

Albert Meiresonne

Manager Foreign Direct Investments & International Trade