The publication contains statistical information concerning the Flemish ports

Boelaert, F.

Open Marine Archive

The 
Ports of 
Flanders
KEY FACTS & FIGURES
The 
Ports of 
Flanders
RUHR AREA
BERLIN
ROTTERDAM
PARIS
LONDON
PORT OF 
ANTWERP
PORT OF 
GHENT
PORT OF 
ZEEBRUGGE
PORT OF 
Ostend
NORDRHEIN 
WESTFALEN
BRUSSELS
Key figures  
2016
ALL 4 FLEMISH PORTS 
  TEN-T  
Core network
SEAGOING VESSELS 
 29,237
CONSUMERS WITHIN  
A 500 KM RANGE 
  More than  
100 million
CONTAINER THROUGHPUT 
 11,4 million TEU
DESTINATIONS WORLDWIDE 
 More than 500
COVERED WAREHOUSES 
  600 hectares
MOTIVATED EMPLOYEES  
 226,427
PORT SURFACES 
 20,000 hectares
INVESTMENTS  
€ 4,0 billion 
€ 11 million /a day
283  
MILLION TONNES 
GOODS TURNOVER
Antwerp
Ghent
Zeebrugge
Ostend
214mil.
29mil.
38mil.
1,5mil.
3The Ports of Flanders2 The Ports of Flanders
4 Flemish ports. 
Different in size, 
location and  
specialization.
Facts
Port of  
Zeebrugge
Deep draught coastal port:  
38 million tonnes goods turnover
• Deepsea container port, with frequent 
connections to Asia
• Shortsea: important roll-on roll-off 
destinations in Europe (Great Britain, Iberian 
peninsula, Scandinavia and Baltic)
• Number 1 car handling port in the world
• Important hub for liquefied natural gas (lng)
• Important forrest products distribution 
centre
• Cruise port
• Accessible at any time for the largest 
container ships
• Specialized in handling foodstuffs
Port of  
Ostend
Small coastal port:  
1.5 million tonnes goods turnover
• Service port for the offshore wind business. 
Specialized port for the construction and 
Operations & Maintenance of the wind farms 
in the North Sea
• Specialized in project cargo and sand/gravel 
for the building industry
• Good connections to the motorways 
and rail network
Port of  
Antwerp
Largest mainport of Flanders, 
second port in Europe:  
214 million tonnes maritime  
goods turnover
• Deepsea container hub, market leader on 5 
out of 6 sailing areas
• Covering all major traffic flows (e.g. fruit and 
perishables, forest products, project cargo, 
bulk liquids, containers, steel, roll-on roll-off, 
cars, coal, iron ore, bulk agricultural pro-
duce, fertilizers, energy gasses, conventional 
general cargo)
• World’s most important coffee port
• Europe’s leading integrated maritime and 
logistics platform
• Europe’s largest oil and chemical cluster
• Excellent inland location: 80 km from the sea
• Accessible for the latest generation of 
container ships: even +18,000 teu container 
vessels
• Widely connected to the fore- and 
 hinterland
• Appropriate storage solutions for each  
product (i.e. 560 hectares covered storage 
space)
• Extensive shortsea and feeder network
Port of  
Ghent
Multimodal port with good connections:  
29 million tonnes goods turnover
• Specialized in dry & liquid bulk: grain, 
vegetable oils, building materials,  
coal & iron ore, petroleum products, 
woodpellets, biofuels, …
• Centre for production & logistics close to 
consumer markets: automotive, paper 
industry, bio-energy, roro and containers
• Multimodal port with good connection to 
France, the Netherlands and Germany by 
inland navigation
• Space to invest: one of the biggest maritime 
sites in europe (660 hectares) around the 
new Kluizendok
• Excellent inland location & nautical access: 
64 km from the sea, accessible via the Ghent-
Terneuzen canal, a new lock in 2022
54 The Ports of FlandersThe Ports of Flanders
• ,
60+19+2+9+10GHENT
Antwerp
ANTWERP
ANTWERP
10,037,341 
3,529
14,473
1,073,308
8,467
Zeebrugge
GHENT
GHENT
1,399,309 
Ghent
ZEEBRUGGE
ZEEBRUGGE
12,211
1,229
2,891
Ostend
OSTEND
OSTEND
0
4,287
3,406
ANTWERP ZEEBRUGGE GHENT OSTEND TOTAL
1980 81,935 14,189 18,424 3,760 118,308
1990 102,009 30,349 24,439 4,552 161,349
2000 130,994 35,475 24,039 4,307 194,815
2010 178,170 49,600 27,258 4,935 259,963
2011 187,203 46,958 27,192 3,844 265,197
2012 184,129 43,544 26,303 3,196 257,172
2013 190,972 42,832 25,955 1,819 261,578
2014 199,012 42,548 25,889 1,431 268,880
2015 208,425 38,318 26,362 1,295 274,400
2016 214,167 37,813 29,110 1,464 282,554
ANTWERP ZEEBRUGGE GHENT OSTEND TOTAL
Dry Bulk 12,642 1,488 17,733 1,344 33,207
Liquid Bulk 69,242 6,032 5,429 91 80,794
Containers 117,910 14,445 133 0 132,488
Roll-on roll-off 4,569 14,352 2,114 0 21,035
Conventional cargo 9,804 1,496 3,701 29 15,030
Total 214,167 37,813 29,110 1,464 282,554
ANTWERP ZEEBRUGGE GHENT OSTEND TOTAL
1980 724,247 181,010 9,950 0 915,207
1990 1,549.113 334,382 9,620 0 1,893,115
2000 4,097,247 965,345 9,900 0 5,072,492
2010 8,468,310 2,499,756 83,065 0 11,051,131
2011 8,662,034 2,206,681 80,093 0 10,948,808
2012 8,635,129 1,953,170 88,159 0 10,676,458
2013 8,578,281 2,026,270 70,288 0 10,674,839
2014 8,977,738 2,046,586 36,800 0 11,061,124
2015 9,653,511 1,568,938 20,195 0 11,242,644
2016 10,037,341 1,399,309 12,211 0 11,448,861
4+16+38+38+4ZEEBRUGGE 12+28+47+7+6TOTAL92+6+2OSTEND
Containers:  
number of Twenty foot  
Equivalent Units (TEU)
Goods 
total turnover
Number of 
passengers
Legend
Number of 
seagoing vessels
ANTWERP
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2015
2014
20
16
100,000
150,000
200,000
300,000
250,000
50,000
0
GHENT
ZEEBRUGGE
OSTEND
Figures
6+32+55+2+5ANTWERP
x1000 tonnes
(2016)
(2016)
Goods: 
Categories 
x 1000 tonnes (2016)
The Ports of Flanders The Ports of Flanders6 7
Goods unloaded in  
the ports of Flanders
Origin
million tonnes
million tonnes
million tonnes
18,6
14,9 8,4
1,6
31,6 
75,4
EUROPE
The Ports of Flanders
million tonnes
million tonnes
million tonnes
45+11+8+2+26+8
GOODS UNLOADED 
(x 1000 tonnes (2016)
Europe 48,231
North America 13,571
South America 10,959
Oceania 807
Asia 28,797
Africa 8,053
Total 110,418
GOODS UNLOADED 
(x 1000 tonnes (2016)
Europe 1,396
North America 0
South America 0
Oceania 0
Asia 7
Africa 14
Total 1,417
GOODS UNLOADED 
(x 1000 tonnes (2016)
Europe 75,425
North America 18,625
South America 14,855
Oceania 1,584
Asia 31,633
Africa 8,445
Total 150,567
ANTWERP
ASIA
OCEANIA
AFRICA
SOUTH AMERICA
NORTH AMERICA
GOODS UNLOADED 
(x 1000 tonnes (2016)
Europe 12,628
North America 4,918
South America 3,056
Oceania 639
Asia 179
Africa 231
Total 21,65157+23+14+4+1+1GHENT
99+1OSTEND
51+12+9+1+21+6TOTAL
GOODS UNLOADED 
(x 1000 tonnes (2016)
Europe 13.170
North America 136
South America 840
Oceania 138
Asia 2.650
Africa 147
Total 17.08178+1+3+1+16+1ZEEBRUGGE
8 9The Ports of Flanders
Destination
Goods loaded in 
the ports of Flanders
million tonnes
million tonnes
million tonnes
million tonnes
million tonnes
million tonnes
14,2 
9,5
17,8 
1,0 
36,4
53,0 
GOODS LOADED 
(x 1000 tonnes (2016)
Europe 29,141
North America 13,195
South America 8,930
Oceania 791
Asia 34,288
Africa 17,405
Total 103,749
GOODS LOADED 
(x 1000 tonnes (2016)
Europe 46
North America 0
South America 0
Oceania 0
Asia 0
Africa 0
Total 46
GOODS LOADED 
(x 1000 tonnes (2016)
Europe 52,959
North America 14,225
South America 9,519
Oceania 1,035
Asia 36,407
Africa 17,842
Total 131,986
ASIA
EUROPE
OCEANIA
AFRICA
SOUTH AMERICA
NORTH AMERICA
100
29+12+8+1+34+16
40+10+8+1+29+12
ANTWERP
GOODS LOADED 
(x 1000 tonnes (2016)
Europe 5,731
North America 369
South America 228
Oceania 0
Asia 928
Africa 203
Total 7,45977+5+2+1+14+1GHENT
OSTEND
TOTAL
GOODS LOADED 
(x 1000 tonnes (2016)
Europe 18,041
North America 661
South America 361
Oceania 244
Asia 1,191
Africa 234
Total 20,73289+3+1+1+5+1ZEEBRUGGE
10 11The Ports of FlandersThe Ports of Flanders
In the center of Europe: thanks to excellent  
hinterland connections a lot of important  
consumption centers are just a few hours away 
from the ports of Flanders (500 km range) 
CORPORATE AND  
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Each Flemish Port Authority (PA) fulfills all the criteria 
concerning corporate and social responsibility (criteria 
from ESPO Port Performance Dashboard): 
• The Port Authority (PA) holds an Annual Meeting
• The Annual Report of the PA is publicly available
• The PA holds regular meetings with the port 
community and stakeholders
• The PA publishes reports on socially  
responsible initiatives
• The PA publishes financial reports
• The PA's specific mission statement is publicly available
• The PA maintains financial accounts audited by  
external auditor(s)
• The PA has internal analytical accounting processes
• The PA uses public selection procedures to  
contract land
AUTONOMOUS  
MANAGEMENT
Each Flemish Port Authority (PA) is managed  
autonomously. They fulfill the following criteria  
from the ESPO Port Performance Dashboard: 
• The PA has its own legal status
• The PA is directed by a daily management body 
(e.g. management board or management committee)
• The PA develops a port masterplan
• The PA is able to contract port land to third parties 
(e.g. terminal operators) in order to permit these  
parties to provide port services
• The PA is responsible to set the rules  
of agreements with third parties
• The PA issues safety regulations in addition  
to (obligatory) national/international regulations
• The PA issues security regulations in addition  
to (obligatory) national/international regulations
• The PA issues environmental regulations 
in addition to (obligatory) national/ 
international regulations
• The PA is financially autonomous
of the European purchasing  
power is located within  
500 km of Flanders.
60%
FLANDERS  
PORT AREA
Investing in Flanders
Flanders is generally considered as the absolute Europe-
an number one location for logistics operations. Thanks 
to its geographical location and its know-how it is a 
central link in world trade. It is ideally located to serve 
a large part of European and world consumers. Add to 
this an excellent port infrastructure and gigantic storage 
capacities as well as a highly skilled workforce and you 
will understand why Flanders is the perfect location for 
international companies.
Flanders Investment and Trade can support you all the 
way, from setting up to expanding your professional ac-
tivities in Flanders. They provide confidential information, 
advice and guidance. Their experienced staff is happy to 
help you with all your questions regarding investment 
subsidies and recruitment, and can introduce you to the 
right decision-makers and to community life in Flanders. 
Interested? Contact Flanders Investment & Trade (FlT) at 
www.investinflanders.be
Region of Ports
Flanders is a region of ports. Our four seaports, Antwerp, 
Zeebrugge, Ghent and Ostend, are gateways to the Euro-
pean hinterland. Geographically speaking, sixty percent 
of the European purchasing power is located within 
500 kilometers of Flanders. Antwerp, Ghent, Ostend and 
Zeebrugge are situated a mere 100 kilometers apart. But 
what’s more: Paris is at barely 300 kilometers, the Ruhr 
Area at 150 kilometers at most. Brussels, the centre of 
international networks and home to the headquarters of 
the European Commission, the European Council and the 
European Parliament is at the same time the capital of 
the Flemish Region and of Belgium itself. 
In 2013 the ports of Antwerp, Zeebrugge, Ghent and  
Ostend together with the Flemish Port Community  
and the Flemish Government agreed to strengthen  
their international competitiveness in a bottom-up  
collaboration strategy called Flanders Port Area. The ports 
in Flanders are competitors but join forces whenever 
possible to guarantee their customers maximum added 
value. Flanders’ ports are working together in economic 
and commercial domains, logistics, the development of 
operational tools and on policy themes. The Flemish  
Government plays a supporting and stimulating role.
Its assets and joint strategies turn Flanders Port Area 
into a valuable hub of the European transport network 
and make it the most efficient way to reach 500,000,000 
European consumers.
Hinterland 
connections
More 
info
FLANDERS
UNITED 
KINGDOM
GERMANY
FRANCE
LUXEMBOURG
NETHERLANDS
SWITZERLAND
13The Ports of Flanders12 The Ports of Flanders
A reliable and competitive infrastructure, excellent logistics 
and fast mobility are assets for any modern society. The 
experts of Mobility and Public Works in the Flanders region 
ensure this. They are part of the Government of Flanders: 
a workforce comprising over 4,000 skilled and dynamic 
employees define the policies, manage large investment 
projects, and provide groundbreaking technical support in a 
variety of areas.
www.flanders.be/roadstotomorrow
More statistical information concerning the  
Flemish ports can be found on:  
www.flemishportcommission.be
The Flemish Port Commission contributes to the preparation of port 
policy. It has an advisory and recommendatory mission as well as a 
research and informative mission.
Statistical  
InformationComposition of: 
• The Flemish Port Commission
• The Ports of Antwerp, Ghent, 
Zeebrugge and Ostend
• The Department Mobility and 
Public Works  
(Government of Flanders) 
• Flanders Investment and Trade 
(Government of Flanders) 
Responsible Editor
Filip Boelaert, Civil Engineer, 
Secretary-General for Department 
Mobility and Public Works 
Koning Albert II-laan 20,  
Post Box 2, 1000 Brussels
Photos
Tom D’Haenens, Marco Mertens, 
Michel Dauchy, Dirk Neyts,  
Port of Antwerp, Port of Ghent, 
Port of Ostend, Port of Zeebrugge, 
Department Mobility and Public 
Works
Layout
Absoluut, www.absoluut.be
Registration number
D/2015/3241/172
Edition
May, 2017
Colophon
ANTWERP PORT 
AUTHORITY
Port House  
Zaha Hadidplein 1  
B-2030 Antwerp, Belgium  
T +32 3 205 20 11 
F +32 3 205 20 28 
E info@portofantwerp.com 
www.portofantwerp.com
GHENT PORT COMPANY
Limited liability company  
under public law 
John Kennedylaan 32 
B-9042 Ghent, Belgium 
T +32 9 251 05 50 
F +32 9 251 54 06 
E info@portofghent.be 
www.portofghent.be
PORT OF ZEEBRUGGE
P. Vandammehuis 
Isabellalaan 1 
B-8380 Zeebrugge, Belgium 
T +32 50 54 32 11 
F +32 50 54 32 24 
E mbz@zeebruggeport.be  
www.portofzeebrugge.be
PORT OF OOSTENDE
Slijkensesteenweg 2 
B-8400 Ostend, Belgium 
T +32 59 34 07 11 
F +32 59 34 07 10 
E info@portofOstend.be 
www.portofOstend.be


The ports of Flanders: Key facts & figures

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