Rotterdam Competes for Europe's Largest AI Manufacturing Hub Worth €7.5 Billion

2025-12-13 data

Rotterdam, Saturday, 13 December 2025.
Rotterdam’s Europoort emerges as frontrunner for a massive European Union artificial intelligence megafactory, representing one of five planned facilities across the continent. This €7.5 billion investment would establish Europe’s largest technology infrastructure project, leveraging Rotterdam’s position as Europe’s biggest port for AI hardware manufacturing and distribution.

Wennink Report Drives Strategic AI Manufacturing Vision

The Rotterdam AI megafactory proposal stems from recommendations in the Wennink report, commissioned by the Schoof cabinet in early September 2025 [2][4]. Peter Wennink, former CEO of ASML, delivered independent advice on securing the Netherlands’ future earning capacity, identifying four key domains for strengthening the country’s economic position: digitalization and AI, health and biotechnology, safety and resilience, and energy and climate technology [2][4]. The report advocates specifically for an AI-Gigafactory in Europoort Rotterdam to strengthen digital sovereignty within both the Netherlands and the broader European Union [4]. Wennink’s analysis indicates the Netherlands requires annual economic growth of 1.5% to 2% over the next decade, necessitating investments ranging from €151 to €187 billion [4].

Port Authority Allocates Resources for Energy Impact Assessment

Havenbedrijf Rotterdam has begun allocating capacity to investigate the AI-Gigafactory’s impact on the current and future energy system within the port industrial cluster, as confirmed on December 12, 2025 [4]. CEO Boudewijn Siemons emphasized the critical nature of this juncture, stating that ‘this report makes clear that the Netherlands is at a tipping point’ and stressing that fundamental choices must be made now to ensure the country remains economically relevant in ten years [4]. The port authority’s proactive approach reflects the massive scale of potential investment, with billions in industrial investments currently awaiting environmental permits in the Rotterdam industrial cluster [4].

Regional Stakeholders Unite Behind Implementation

A coalition of regional authorities has expressed unified support for rapidly implementing the Wennink recommendations. The province of Zuid-Holland, municipality of Rotterdam, Port of Rotterdam Authority, and industry association Deltalinqs view the report as providing ‘building blocks to keep the Netherlands future-proof’ [2]. Deputy Arne Weverling of Zuid-Holland province highlighted the opportunity to develop Rotterdam’s mainport into ‘the European hub for critical and circular raw materials, energy and climate solutions, with a strong chemical industry’ [2]. Port alderman Robert Simons emphasized that the proposed measures could unlock new investments and accelerate administrative processes, which would ‘enormously help our Rotterdam port’ [2]. Victor van der Chijs, chairman of Deltalinqs, noted that regional partners are already working on cluster-level approaches through the Recharge Rotterdam initiative, positioning them ready to implement Wennink’s recommendations [2].

Strategic Positioning Amid European Competition

Rotterdam’s candidacy faces competition from other European locations, with the EU planning five AI megafactories continent-wide as part of its strategy to become a global AI technology leader [1]. While Rotterdam pursues the €7.5 billion facility, Groningen has already secured a separate €200 million AI megafactory project scheduled to open in 2027, demonstrating the Netherlands’ broader commitment to AI infrastructure development [8]. The Groningen facility involves €60 million from Nij Begun, €70 million from the national government, and €70 million from the European Union, with computing capacity allocated 23% regionally, 27% nationally, and 50% for European projects [8]. Rotterdam’s advantages include its position as Europe’s largest port, existing logistics infrastructure, and strategic location for AI hardware manufacturing and distribution across the continent [1]. The port also possesses qualified storage facilities and expertise for strategic stocks of critical raw materials, essential components for AI manufacturing supply chains [2][4].

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artificial intelligence manufacturing facility