Circular City Ports - Workbook

City-port context of Amsterdam
Fossil transit harbour - the circular economy as
new incentive against conflictual urbanization?
3
1 Description of location in relation to other
(sea/) ports
The port of Amsterdam is considered a seaport in
Amsterdam city, located in the former bay named IJ,
and connected with the North Sea. The port is characterized
mainly as an industrial port, with an intensive
presence of steel industries and petrochemical
activities. The ort of Amsterdam is the fourth largest
port in Europe, playing a key role in the cargo transhipments
at the European and international level.
2 Description of current activities
The activities taking place in the port are prominently
around fossil fuel, import and export, one of the
most important players in this sector is the Simadan
company. The Amsterdam port is the largest petrol
port in the world, at the same time, second coal port
in the Europe.
Amsterdam nowadays is specializing in the supply,
storage and transit of fuels, in particular gasoline.
Furthermore, it is considered an important cruise
port. The port of Amsterdam can be reached via the
IJgeul off the coast of IJmuiden.
The throughput of the port of IJmuiden, has remained
relatively constant during the last decade, at around
20 million tons per year. This mainly concerns coal
and iron ore for the Hoogovens steel mill.
In the port of Amsterdam the food industry is one of
the largest local job creator and most powerful drivers
of the economy in the Amsterdam Metropolitan
Area. This can be related to the presence of a number
of prominent, successful food companies. From
this strong position, the agri-food sector can make a
fundamental contribution to the metropolitan challenges
within the region.
3 Description demographic/socio-economic
dynamics.
The strong and constant demographic growth of
Amsterdam city, start to affect the spaces of the
port, in which various old areas are being re-developed
according to housing program (Buiksloterham,
Minerva and Houthaven, etc.)
In the ports there are few entrepreneurs (in relation
to Rotterdam, for example) but with a strong international
character: Schiphol airport and many international
companies have their headquarters here. This
service economy has a major attraction for (large)
companies and has grown strongly in recent years
(Brexit, tax benefits)
These dynamics leads to a different approach/motives/leverages
of the concept of CE & city port
4 Why, and in what way is circularity looked at?
Circularity in the port of Amsterdam can find its
way through the infrastructure of the “old industry”,
which can easily be transformed into a bio-based
economy and is referred to as “circular” while the
processes behind it (e.g. scale of import biomass)
are not necessarily clean or more sustainable.
It is possible to identify several projects that look at
the valorisation of agri-food residual flows, collecting
the food waste stream from the city and using it
in their business.
In order to involve old industries in the transition, the
Port Authority is committed in attracting new technologies
and facilitating start-ups to further develop
their product and to allow it to grow into their industrial
port.
5 Who gives substance to this, which partnerships/programmes/initiatives
are made?
The Port Authority is confronted with its intrinsic
limitations as an independent government company,
which is neither an operator nor a producer. As a
matchmaker and co-creator, the company does have
commercial space to stimulate and participate. But
they are still customers who have to do it. “If they
don’t see a revenue model in it, it won’t happen. We
cannot prescribe the law. Unfortunately, there is still
no government taxing the use of raw materials and
not reusing them.
6 Is there already a discourse around cityports?
(Yes/no) Who is behind it and what are the ambitions/motives?
The Port Authority is confronted with its intrinsic
limitations as an independent government company,
which is neither an operator nor a producer. As a
matchmaker and co-creator, the company does have
commercial space to stimulate and participate. But
they are still customers who have to do it. “If they
don’t see a revenue model in it, it won’t happen. We
cannot prescribe the law. Unfortunately, there is still
no government taxing the use of raw materials and
not reusing them.