Netherlands Begins Building National Hydrogen Network Through Industrial Clusters
Groningen, Tuesday, 24 February 2026.
Dutch gas company Gasunie has started constructing a nationwide hydrogen infrastructure by targeting six major industrial clusters first. This strategic approach leverages existing shared infrastructure and concentrated demand to create cost-effective hydrogen transport systems. The first 32 kilometers in Rotterdam were filled with green hydrogen in January 2026, marking a significant milestone in Europe’s energy transition efforts.
Strategic Focus on Industrial Clusters
Gasunie’s subsidiary Hynetwork has identified six major industrial clusters across the Netherlands as the foundation for hydrogen network development [1][2]. These clusters include Rotterdam-Moerdijk, Zeeland-West Brabant, Chemelot, the North Sea Canal Area, the Northern Netherlands, and a sixth cluster of scattered industrial companies [1][3]. The strategic rationale centers on concentrated hydrogen demand and existing shared infrastructure that can be efficiently adapted for hydrogen transport [1][3]. Industrial clusters host energy-intensive industries including chemistry, fertilizer production, and steel manufacturing, which require significant energy and high temperatures where full electrification is not always feasible [3]. Companies in these locations already share infrastructure such as ports, railway lines, roads, and energy facilities, enabling efficient exchange of raw materials and waste streams [1][3].
European Integration and Economic Significance
The Netherlands’ industrial clusters and ports form integral components of European production chains, with materials processed in Rotterdam and Chemelot subsequently sent to German car factories [1][3]. This interconnected system provides substantial employment and economic contributions through factories, suppliers, transport, and maintenance companies [3]. The Dutch industry plays a crucial role in providing vital products to many sectors across Europe, including steel and chemical raw materials [1][3]. However, European industry faces mounting pressure from high energy costs and international competition, making reliable and affordable energy infrastructure essential for maintaining competitiveness [1][3]. The hydrogen network aims to address these challenges by providing industrial companies with the right conditions regarding infrastructure and sustainability to remain in the Netherlands and Europe [3].
Network Development Timeline and Progress
Construction of the hydrogen network began in Rotterdam in 2023 [2], with a significant milestone achieved on January 29, 2026, when the first 32 kilometers of the hydrogen network were filled with green hydrogen [7]. The phased development approach will see the network grow step-by-step from Rotterdam to other industrial clusters including Zeeland-West Brabant, Chemelot, the North Sea Canal area, and Northern Netherlands [5]. Recent developments include crucial collaboration work in the North Sea Canal area on February 18, 2026, and expansion of connection policies to include third-party connection schemes [7]. The Waterstofnetwerk Limburg project represents another key component, creating an underground hydrogen pipeline running from Ravenstein in North Brabant to Schinnen in Limburg, with a branch to the Chemelot industrial complex [6]. This project primarily utilizes existing natural gas pipelines for hydrogen transport, with new pipelines planned between specific sections and to Chemelot [6].
Infrastructure Scale and Future Connectivity
Hynetwork, operating as a 100% subsidiary of Gasunie, is constructing a comprehensive 1,200-kilometer hydrogen pipeline network designed to connect Dutch industry with each other, with foreign countries, and with import and storage locations [2][7]. The network development mirrors the phased approach previously used for the natural gas network, ensuring reliability and systematic growth [3]. The infrastructure will feature both high-pressure networks developed by Hynetwork and potential future low-pressure networks that could be developed by distribution network operators such as Alliander [7]. While homes will not be connected to the hydrogen network due to the scarcity of green hydrogen, which should be prioritized for sectors without sustainable alternatives such as heavy industry, regional grid operators including Stedin and Enexis are investigating possibilities for future hydrogen networks serving homes and smaller businesses [7]. The project coordination involves the Ministry of Climate and Green Growth (KGG) working alongside the Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning (VRO) to manage permitting processes [6].