The Frisian Harbour ecosystem forms an important part of the Friesland economy.
Although the individual harbours have a limited volume of transshipment, the combined transshipment provided by the Frisian harbour network is, after the Ports of Zwolle and Twente, the largest inland navigation cluster in the Netherlands. Furthermore, transshipment in the Frisian harbours is growing steadily: In the period between 2008 and 2018 this had grown by 25% to 7.5 million tonnes per year in 2018 (Source: CBS). In addition, the sector is delivering an important contribution to achieving the goals in the area of CO2 and nitrogen reduction. An average inland vessel emits 8.5 times less CO2 per tonne-kilometre than an average lorry.
The aim of the Haven Netwerk Fryslân is, together with the involved parties, to maintain, make and develop the waterways as a profitable means of transport, so that a switch from roads to waterways is stimulated and promoted.
Various companies, authorities, bodies and information centres recognise the importance of an effective collaboration in increasing the amount of transport over the waterways in the province of Friesland. To this end, they have endorsed the Strategic Agenda that was jointly set during a symposium on 4 October 2022. The IJB Group is one of the companies involved. We support the objectives of this network, certainly in view of the fact that our daily supply of raw materials in Lemmer forms a crucial part of our business operations.
