Netherlands narrows nuclear plant sites to Eemshaven and Terneuzen, drops Maasvlakte

The Dutch cabinet has confirmed that the Maasvlakte area in Rotterdam will no longer be considered for the construction of new nuclear power plants. The remaining locations under review are the Eemshaven site in the province of Groningen and the Terneuzen area in Zeeland.

High‑voltage grid operator TenneT says Eemshaven is technically the most suitable location because of its existing transmission infrastructure, while Terneuzen would require extensive and costly upgrades to the electricity grid. Local opposition in Groningen remains strong, with residents and regional politicians questioning the restart of nuclear projects, whereas Zeeland’s authorities point to infrastructure and financial challenges.

Provincial officials in South Holland have welcomed the removal of the Maasvlakte option, citing space constraints and safety concerns. The government plans to make a final site decision by the end of the year and is also evaluating the potential role of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) as an alternative to large-scale reactors.