Dutch Belt & Road
Research Center
China's New Silk Road
Impact in figures
Dutch Belt & Road Research Center
trade, supply chains and logistics
The mission is to generate and share knowledge by research, workshops and courses to strengthen the awareness about the logistics hub position of the Netherlands in relation to the Belt & Road Initiative development.
About
The Center
In recent years the role of China in the world has become more and more prominent. From 2008 China is the biggest exporter in the world and is now the second largest trade partner of the EU, after the US (2019). A lot of attention has been given in the Netherlands to the topic how to relate to China from a geopolitical point of view. The factual impact of this bigger role on trade, supply chains and transportation as a result of the development of the Belt & Road Initiative appeared to be underexposed. Cargo trains from China to Europe exceed the amount of 10.000 trains a year, containing 345000TEU (2020). According to forcasts of the UIC, this volume will quadruple by 2030. The China owned port of Piraeus grew to the fourth position as container port in Europe (2020).
The Dutch Belt & Road Research Center was founded in 2017 and intends to show the impact in figures of the logistical consequences of these developments. The center offers services and tailor-made courses for policymakers and professionals. For over ten years research has already been done related to this theme at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (RUAS), together with students. There is already a wide range of knowledge available. For 2021 on the Center intends to offer the possibility to develop more knowledge and awareness for policymakers and for professionals in the logistics field.
The Founder
Educated as a civil engineer in Delft, I have always been interested in the relationship between transport and infrastructure. A small article in 2007 in Nieuwsblad Transport about the takeover of a German airport caught my attention. Curious about the underlying idea, I visited this location in Germany. That was the start of my focus on Chinese investments in Europe and the impact on logistics flows.
After my graduation in Delft I worked at the Free University, Amsterdam on an integrated agenda on transport, logistics and infrastructure. In 1992 I started to work as a lecturer at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences at the logistics department, being responsible for transport economics in the curriculum. Since 2005 I have been vice president of the Benelux Association of Transport Economists (BIVEC). A special issue on their website is dedicated to Chinese Logistics . Since 2007 I have generated a wide range of research on the influence of China on logistics and transport related to Europe, in my role as lecturer at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. I participated in initiatives of The Clingendael Institute about the role of China geopolitically. Also in the Asian Logistics Round Table. Guestlectures were given on this topic at Technical University Delft, TIAS Business School in Tilburg and at Stellenbosch University South Africa. Presentations were given in Vancouver, Canada and at Holland International Distribution Council in the Hague (HIDC). In 2017 the Dutch Belt & Road Research Center was founded to strengthen the logistic research on this topic. The Center did research for Schiphol International Airport and KTZ Express, the national railways of Kazakhstan and is now sponsor of research by Master students at the Masters education International Logistics and Supply Chains at Hogeschool Rotterdam Business School.
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Ton van den Hanenberg at Stellenbosch University, South Africa (2016)
Background
Developments regarding the connections between China and Europe, the so-called Belt & Road Initiative, will affect the Netherlands as a logistics hub in Europe.
Deepsea routes that run through Mediterranean ports such as Piraeus can also reach the heart of Europe via a route, not via Rotterdam. With Cosco Pacific as owner Piraeus is one of the fastest growing ports in Europe, now the 4th container port in Europe (2020).
The overland flows by rail reach Europe via Poland and in most cases end in Germany. According to forecasts by UIC, the volume by rail between China and Europe will quadruple by 2030 (345,000 TEU in 2020).
How can the Netherlands maintain its position as a distribution country? Will there be new export opportunities for the Netherlands through these new connections?
Can the Netherlands play a role in the management of these flows?
Research
Some research directions that arise from the Chinese Belt & Road Initiative and the consequences for logistics in the Netherlands:
Social media:
How are transport flows shifted due to developments in Mediterranean ports, so that flows no longer run through the Western European ports and what is the extent of this?
Which export goods (trade flows) can use the rail connections potentially between the Netherlands and China and what is their potential?
What substitution from air freight to rail transport can be expected?
What opportunities does this new rail connection offer to Rotterdam, when it comes to combining rail and shortsea?
Are the Netherlands sufficiently connected to these rail connections to China to take full advantage of these new transport possibilities? What services are offered?
Which new products could be transported to China and all intermediate countries, where this was not possible without these rail connections? Think of perishable and agricultural goods and high-quality goods in the middle segment between sea and air freight.
Previous research under supervision of Dutch Belt & Road Research Center exccuted by Master sudents of RUAS
Does the New Silk Road by rail offer new opportunities for trade, new products which are till now not exported to China, between the Netherlands and China (2019)
Is an online platform to book transport services to China by rail a visible option (2019)
Possibilities for agriculture products (peppers and pears) to be transported by rail from the Netherlands to China (2020)
Cut flowers to be transported by rail from the Netherlands to China (2020)
Is the transport link between UK and China via Short Sea and rail (via Rotterdam) a visible option along deepsea and airtransportation (2021)
Interested to have more information about these reports? Contact us
Exchange studytrip with students to Chongqing. Point 0 km, startingpoint of the first rail connection to Europe (2017)
Services
Social media:
To do research
Dutch Belt & Road Research Center can offer you to do (logistics or trade related) research on topics related to B&R relevant for your business or policy development. In cooperation with other research institutes if necessary.
Education
Dutch Belt & Road Research Center can offer you tailor made courses or guestlectures for your company or government department to strengthen your organization with more background information about BRI related to logistics.
References
The China Factor cannot be underestimated in the case of the Netherlands: an open economy with Rotterdam and Schiphol as important gateways to Europe - also for China. The Dutch Belt & Road Research Center has a major role to play in bridging the cap between East and West.
Annette Nijs, Founder The China Agenda | Iterpretation, Insights and Introductions
Ton van den Hanenberg is among first scholars in the Netherlands who started to pay attention to the Chinese Belt & Road Initiative. Due to our shared interest in BRI we have been in contact with each other since 2014. Ton's expertise is complementary to the work of the Clingendael China Centre, which is aimed at the geopolitical aspects of BRI
Frans-Paul van der Putten, Coordinator, Clingendael China Centre
Contact
Email & Phone:
