The Port of Rotterdam, Europe’s largest and one of the world’s busiest maritime hubs, is now preparing for the possibility of a direct military conflict with Russia. According to its chief executive Boudewijn Siemons, the port has begun reserving dedicated space for NATO military supply ships, while also planning for wartime logistics such as rerouting civilian cargo and transferring munitions.

“If large volumes of military goods would have to be shipped, we’d look to Antwerp or other ports to take over some capacity,” Siemons told the Financial Times. He said the port would accommodate four to five military vessels annually, each docking for several weeks at a time.

Rotterdam’s container terminal is the only facility in the port capable of safely transferring ammunition between ships, making it central to any NATO logistical response in the event of conflict.

Military Preparedness and NATO Coordination

The Netherlands’ government, responding to NATO requests, has ordered Rotterdam to increase its military-handling capacity. Siemons confirmed that amphibious military exercises will also take place near the port several times a year.

These steps come as NATO accelerates its defense planning amid warnings that Russia could attack a NATO member state by 2030, a concern recently voiced by incoming NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

The developments in Rotterdam mirror broader military infrastructure readiness across Europe. The Port of Antwerp—the EU’s second-largest—already handles regular U.S. military shipments. Now both ports are working together to ensure capacity and resilience in wartime logistics, breaking from their usual commercial rivalry.

Strategic Stockpiling and Supply Chain Resilience

Beyond military concerns, Rotterdam is also becoming a node in Europe’s efforts to build resilience against supply shocks, whether from conflict or geopolitical instability. Siemons emphasized the need to stockpile critical materials—such as copper, lithium, graphite, and pharmaceuticals—citing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and energy crisis following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

“We should do the same with things like copper, lithium, graphite and a number of these critical raw materials,” he said, noting that port areas with strong distribution links are ideal for such reserves.

Currently, parts of the Netherlands’ strategic oil reserve are stored in Rotterdam. The EU is expected to unveil a broader “stockpiling strategy” that includes medical supplies, shelter materials, and essential goods like food and water.

The EU’s €800 billion rearmament initiative, combined with Trump’s calls for European defense self-sufficiency and deepening security cooperation between ports, reflects a fundamental shift in how the continent is preparing for the possibility of major power conflict—with Rotterdam at the center.