Netherlands Begins Building First National Hydrogen Network
Rotterdam, Wednesday, 26 August 2026.
Construction has begun on the Dutch national hydrogen network, repurposing existing gas pipelines to connect major industrial clusters and establish the Netherlands as a European green energy hub.
A Two-Tiered Infrastructure Model
The realization of this ambitious network relies on a two-tiered infrastructure model designed to balance high-capacity industrial transport with local commercial needs [2]. The high-pressure backbone, operating at pressures between 50 and 60 bar, is being constructed by Hynetwork, a subsidiary of the state-owned gas transport company Gasunie [2][3]. This national transport network is engineered to link major industrial hubs, import terminals, and storage facilities across the Netherlands, with future interconnectors planned to export hydrogen directly to Germany and Belgium [2]. The initial phase of this network achieved a key milestone in the spring of 2026, when the first 32-kilometer section was successfully opened in the Rotterdam port area [3].
Expanding the Southwest Corridor
To expand this national network, Gasunie is actively developing the Southwest Netherlands project (Waterstofnetwerk Zuidwest Nederland) [6]. This specific corridor involves a total of 133 kilometers of pipeline infrastructure, which consists of converting approximately 83 kilometers of existing natural gas pipelines between Klundert and Zelzate, alongside constructing 50 kilometers of brand-new steel pipelines between Woensdrecht and Vlissingen [6]. For smaller local businesses that cannot easily or cost-effectively connect to this high-pressure trunkline, regional distribution networks operating at a lower pressure of 8 to 16 bar are being designed as a targeted alternative, though their rollout remains highly dependent on localized demand projections [2].
Navigating Market Realities and Policy Frameworks
Despite the infrastructure progress, the broader hydrogen economy faces a delicate transitional phase. Within Gasunie, the financial and economic viability of these capital-intensive projects is being carefully scrutinized [5]. Kimm Veldman, Treasury unit coordinator and senior economic advisor at Gasunie, has emphasized a shift in valuation methodology [5]. Rather than relying strictly on historical cash flow models, her team evaluates how these new green markets are created, assessing their sensitivity to regulatory changes, subsidies, and the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) [5]. This rigorous economic planning is critical as the sector currently wrestles with a “wait-and-see” dynamic, where developers of hydrogen production plants and industrial off-takers delay final investment decisions while waiting for one another to act [1].
Regulatory Developments and Private Sector Pioneers
To resolve these market uncertainties, the Dutch government is preparing a legislative proposal to integrate European hydrogen and gas regulations into the national Energy Act (Energiewet) [2]. This proposal, which will officially define the roles, oversight, and responsibilities for constructing and managing the hydrogen grid, is expected to be published in the autumn of 2026 [2]. Meanwhile, private enterprises are forging ahead to secure early market share [4]. Groningen-based Holthausen Energy Points has emerged as the second producer in the Netherlands to supply certified green hydrogen [4]. By partnering with energy supplier ENGIE, Holthausen links its electricity consumption directly to Windpark Jaap Rodenburg 2 in Almere [4]. The company plans to scale its electrolysis capacity from five to seven megawatts, with ENGIE committed to delivering 30 gigawatt-hours of renewable electricity annually by 2028 [4].