King and Minister Van Veldhoven-van der Meer to attend World Hydrogen Summit and completion of first phase of hydrogen network
His Majesty the King will visit the World Hydrogen Summit at Ahoy Rotterdam on Wednesday afternoon, May 20. Subsequently, the King will attend the completion of the first part of Gasunie's hydrogen network at the Schiecentrale in Rotterdam. Minister Van Veldhoven-van der Meer of Climate and Green Growth will also be in attendance.
The World Hydrogen Summit & Exhibition 2026 takes place from May 19 to 21. During this summit, governments, businesses, and experts come together to share knowledge, strengthen partnerships, and accelerate the development of hydrogen as a sustainable energy carrier. King Willem-Alexander and Minister Van Veldhoven-van der Meer will visit the exhibition floor and speak with company representatives at various stands regarding their contribution to the energy transition. The King will also launch the digital hydrogen guide. This guide contains 270 profiles of Dutch companies in the hydrogen sector and is presented by Nederland Waterstofland, TKI Duurzame Energie, FME, and RVO.
Following this, the King and the Minister will attend the completion of the first section of the national hydrogen network. Construction of this network began in October 2023. With the completion of this 32-kilometer pipeline, hydrogen can be transported from the Maasvlakte to industrial consumers. The network will be further expanded in the coming years, and from 2033, it will connect the major industrial regions in the Netherlands with each other and with Germany and Belgium. The hydrogen network is being realized by Gasunie. During the event, the Minister of Climate and Green Growth will deliver a speech, and the King and the Minister will symbolically activate the hydrogen network. Prior to the event, the King and the Minister will speak with employees who helped build the network.
Image: RVD - Robin de Puy
