Hazardous materials are substances that, due to their specific properties, can cause danger, damage, or serious nuisance to humans, animals, and the environment in small quantities. These goods must be transported according to European agreements and regulations.

In 2023, 36.9% of the total freight transport in the Netherlands consisted of hazardous materials. Measured by weight, most of these are gases and flammable liquids, such as oil and gasoline. Other examples of hazardous materials include fireworks, perfume products, ammonia, and lithium-ion batteries.

Further Decline in Gas Transport

In 2023, 146 million tons of hazardous gases were transported within the Netherlands, less than in 2021 and 2022, when gas transport volumes had increased. The decline in domestic transport is primarily related to reduced natural gas extraction in the Netherlands. On October 1, 2024, the Groningen gas field was permanently closed.

Gas imports have increased in recent years: over 31 million tons in 2015 compared to over 59 million tons in 2022 and over 54 million tons in 2023. This increase is mainly due to the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by seagoing vessels. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, alternatives were sought to reduce dependence on Russian gas, which is mainly transported through pipelines. In 2022, the additional LNG terminal in Eemshaven was put into operation, further increasing the capacity to import gas from outside Europe.

Relatively More Hazardous Materials by Seagoing Vessel

The majority of hazardous material transport is via pipelines, such as the transport of oil and natural gas. In 2023, 42.7% of hazardous materials were transported via pipelines, compared to 49.3% in 2015. This decline is mainly due to a lower transported weight of gases.

The transported weight of hazardous materials by seagoing vessel increased in 2023 to over 260 million tons. This is 4.5% less than in 2022 but 11.2% more than in 2015. The increased transport of gases has resulted in relatively more hazardous materials being transported by seagoing vessels: 39.7% of total transport. In 2015, this was still 34.0%.

Inland shipping transported over 97 million tons of hazardous materials in 2023. Inland shipping is particularly dominant in transit, accounting for 96.1% of the transit share. Road and rail transport of hazardous materials play a relatively minor role in terms of weight: in 2023, 2.0% of hazardous materials were transported by road and 0.8% by rail.