At the large Ecomobiel Fair in Rotterdam on September 27, 2011, the Dutch Minister for Infrastructure and Environment, Melanie Schultz Verhaegen, also responsible for Mobility,  announced the Dutch government’s interest to collaborate with Germany to put the Netherlands on the map as “a walh2alla” for hydrogen  development.  She mentioned the Dutch unique position and expertise in handling  large quantities of hydrogen produced in the chemical industry in the Botlek area near Rotterdam and the existing pipeline network in the Western part of the country.

She mentioned the government intention to work with regional authorities to develop an action plan by this Spring to facilitate a sufficient infrastructure build up of hydrogen refuelling network to attact the first fuel cell hydrogen car fleets, buses trucks as well as passenger cars. A budget of 5 mln is set aside for this efforts. More info at Ministry’s website.