NL Prefix and Three-Character Location Code
A Netherlands UN/LOCODE begins with the country prefix NL followed by a three-character location identifier. For example, NLRTM identifies the Rotterdam record used in international logistics data.
Seaports in Netherlands: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Netherlands has 184 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting one of Europe’s most connected maritime, inland-waterway and distribution systems.
Use the country-level directory to check UN/LOCODE references, port coverage and practical freight-routing information for Netherlands.
Netherlands Port Overview
Netherlands combines North Sea gateway ports with dense inland-waterway and logistics links. Rotterdam is the principal deep-sea hub, while Amsterdam, Moerdijk, Vlissingen and other locations serve specialized cargo, short-sea shipping and regional distribution.
184
Netherlands ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
428.4M t
Rotterdam port cargo throughput in 2025, down approximately 1.7% YoY
Port of Rotterdam 2025 results
14.2M TEU
Rotterdam container throughput in 2025, up approximately 2.8% YoY
Port of Rotterdam 2025 results
62.3M t
Amsterdam port cargo throughput in 2024, broadly stable YoY
Port of Amsterdam 2024 figures
How many seaports does Netherlands have?
Netherlands has 184 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its Nov 2026 first-party database snapshot.
What is the largest and busiest port in Netherlands?
Rotterdam is the largest and busiest maritime gateway in Netherlands; the database includes both Rotterdam code NLRTM and Rotterdam code NLROT as active port records.
Which regions handle most Netherlands cargo?
The Rotterdam-Rijnmond cluster leads deep-sea and energy cargo, while Amsterdam and Moerdijk support major industrial, short-sea and distribution flows. Relevant records include NLAMS and NLMOE.
Top Netherlands Ports by Freight Role
This table separates global container-league information from Ecer Freight’s indexed-port coverage. Throughput figures are indicative 2025 container statistics where publicly reported; non-container and specialist locations are not assigned unsupported TEU values.
Selected active Netherlands port records and indicative 2025 container performance
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Rotterdam | NLRTM | 14.20 | +2.8% | Rotterdam-Rijnmond |
| — | Rotterdam | NLROT | — | — | Rotterdam-Rijnmond |
| — | Amsterdam | NLAMS | — | — | North Holland |
| — | Moerdijk | NLMOE | — | — | West Brabant |
| — | Groningen | NLGRO | — | — | North Netherlands |
| — | Venlo | NLVLO | — | — | Limburg inland logistics |
| — | Alblasserdam | NLABL | — | — | Rhine-Meuse inland corridor |
| — | Rozenburg | NLROZ | — | — | Rotterdam-Rijnmond |
Netherlands Port Regions and Cargo Clusters
Rotterdam-Rijnmond and Rhine-Meuse
The Rhine-Meuse delta is the country’s primary deep-sea gateway and the main interface between ocean services, petrochemicals, containers, dry bulk and inland barge networks.
Selected ports and terminals
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rotterdam | NLRTM | Rotterdam / — | Deep-sea containers, energy, liquid and dry bulk |
| Rotterdam | NLROT | Rotterdam / — | Port and terminal operations |
| Rozenburg | NLROZ | Rozenburg / — | Industrial and petrochemical cargo |
| Dordrecht | NLDOR | Dordrecht / — | Inland, project and industrial cargo |
| Vlaardingen | NLVLA | Vlaardingen / — | Short-sea and general cargo |
| Schiedam | NLSCM | Schiedam / — | Regional and industrial cargo |
Amsterdam and North Holland
The Amsterdam area supports dry bulk, agribulk, liquid bulk, breakbulk and short-sea services, with logistics links across the wider North Holland market.
Selected ports and terminals
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | NLAMS | Amsterdam / — | Dry bulk, liquid bulk, agribulk and short sea |
| Ijmuiden | NLIJM | Ijmuiden / — | Steel, fisheries and general cargo |
| Beverwijk | NLBEV | Beverwijk / — | Regional and industrial cargo |
| Zaandam | NLZAA | Zaandam / — | Inland and short-sea cargo |
| Aalsmeer | NLAAM | Aalsmeer / — | Regional distribution and inland cargo |
Zeeland and Southwestern Delta
The Zeeland delta provides access to industrial sites, inland waterways and North Sea short-sea routes, including facilities around Vlissingen and Terneuzen.
Selected ports and terminals
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiushing | NLFIU | Vlissingen / — | Breakbulk, project cargo and short sea |
| Terneuzen | NLTNZ | Terneuzen / — | Industrial, liquid bulk and general cargo |
| Hansweert | NLHAN | Hansweert / — | Inland-waterway and regional cargo |
| Middelburg | NLMID | Middelburg / — | Regional and inland cargo |
| Borssele | NLBOR | Borssele / — | Industrial and energy-related cargo |
Northern Netherlands and Inland Logistics
Northern and inland locations connect regional manufacturing, agricultural cargo and distribution centers with coastal and European waterway networks.
Selected ports and terminals
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groningen | NLGRO | Groningen / — | Regional bulk, general cargo and inland transport |
| Delfzijl | NLDZL | Delfzijl / — | Chemicals, bulk and industrial cargo |
| Eemshaven | NLEEM | Eemshaven / — | Energy, project and general cargo |
| Harlingen | NLHAR | Harlingen / — | Short sea, ferry and regional cargo |
| Leeuwarden | NLLEE | Leeuwarden / — | Inland and regional distribution |
| Kampen | NLKAM | Kampen / — | Inland bulk and general cargo |
Netherlands Port Codes and UN/LOCODEs
City-Level and Terminal-Level Records
A city-level code and a terminal or port-facility record may appear as separate database entries. Rotterdam records such as NLRTM and NLROT should therefore be checked against the actual booking, delivery and customs instructions.
How to Verify a Port Code
Compare the code with the current UNECE UN/LOCODE reference and then review the related Ecer Freight entry in the port directory before preparing shipping documents.
Shipping from Netherlands: Main Trade Lanes
Transit times depend on the carrier, service string, equipment availability, port rotation, customs status and final inland destination. The following ranges are indicative only.
Netherlands to North America
Regular container services connect Rotterdam and Amsterdam with major gateways on the United States and Canadian coasts.
Netherlands to East Asia
Deep-sea services from the Rhine-Meuse delta support imports and exports with East Asian manufacturing and consumer markets.
Netherlands to the Mediterranean
Short-sea and feeder networks connect Netherlands with Mediterranean gateways for European distribution and transshipment.
Netherlands to Northern Europe
Frequent short-sea, feeder, barge and multimodal services support trade with the United Kingdom, Scandinavia and the Baltic region.
Data Sources and Methodology
Port coverage, code presentation and freight commentary use separate data concepts. The indexed count is first-party coverage, while throughput and league-table figures refer to publicly reported port or industry statistics.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — 184 Netherlands port and terminal records in the Nov 2026 database snapshot.
- Port of Rotterdam — 2025 cargo and container throughput figures for the Rotterdam port complex.
- Port of Amsterdam — publicly reported cargo throughput and port activity information.
- UNECE — international UN/LOCODE structure and location-code reference framework.
- Statistics Netherlands — national transport, trade and maritime statistics where applicable.
Netherlands Seaport FAQ
How many seaports does Netherlands have?
Netherlands has 184 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the Nov 2026 database snapshot.
What is the main port in Netherlands?
Rotterdam is the main deep-sea and container gateway in Netherlands. Ecer Freight records include NLRTM and NLROT for Rotterdam-related port entries.
What is the UN/LOCODE for Rotterdam?
The database sample includes NLRTM and NLROT for Rotterdam. The correct record should be confirmed against the specific terminal, booking instruction and current UN/LOCODE reference.
Which port regions are important for Netherlands freight?
The main freight clusters are Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Amsterdam and North Holland, the Zeeland and Southwestern Delta, and the northern and inland logistics corridors.
Are Netherlands ports used for container and bulk cargo?
Yes. Rotterdam has a major container role as well as liquid bulk, dry bulk and energy activity. Amsterdam, Moerdijk, Vlissingen, Terneuzen and other locations serve specialized, industrial and regional cargo.
How current is the Netherlands port data?
The indexed coverage is a Nov 2026 snapshot for the 2026 page. Throughput references use the latest complete public reporting available, principally 2025, and remain subject to later revisions.
How can a shipper request a Netherlands sea-freight quote?
Shippers can compare indicative FCL and LCL options through the freight-rate pages, then confirm routing, equipment, cargo details, cut-off dates and inland delivery requirements.
Editorial note: This page combines Ecer Freight’s country port index with publicly available port-authority, national-statistics and UN/LOCODE reference information. Indexed port coverage is reviewed with database updates, while trade-lane guidance and public throughput figures are reviewed quarterly or when authoritative releases become available.
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