PIONEERS at the Annual Conference of the Dutch Association of Inland Ports (NVB) 2023

Without an active role in inland ports, sustainable goals will not be achieved!

The Dutch Association of Inland Ports (NVB) hosted its Annual Conference in Utrecht, the Netherlands, from October 5th to 6th, 2023. Peter van Wijlick, one of PIONEERS’ partners from the Municipality of Venlo, attended the event. Venlo is the only inland port within PIONEERS, so his participation was of great importance to exchange ideas and join discussions on sustainable growth and development within the inland port sector.

On Thursday afternoon, a workshop was held on the challenges posed by low water levels in rivers and canals during dry seasons. The workshop explored topics such as integrated river management and building climate-resilient waterways, vital for sustainable inland port operations. In the evening, the NVB hold its annual dinner, providing an opportunity for participants to engage in informal discussions and networking.

Friday’s agenda featured several workshops and speeches. Topics included modal shift initiatives, sustainability in waterways and inland ports, circular economy in port operations, and the significance of cooperation for the advancement of inland navigation and ports. The afternoon featured a series of speeches focusing on inland navigation and ports, culminating in a keynote addressed by the Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Waterways, Mark Haber.