Editing Transport in the Netherlands (section)

===Ports and harbours===
The Netherlands has thirteen [[seaport]]s,<ref name="NFIA Logistics"/> three of which have international significance. Handling 440 million metric tons of cargo in 2013, the [[port of Rotterdam]] is the biggest [[port]] of Europe – as big as the next three biggest combined, and the eighth largest in the world.<ref name="RPA Stat13"/> The [[Port of Amsterdam|Amsterdam seaport]] is the second in the country, and the fifth largest in Europe.<ref name="RPA Stat13"/> Additionally, since 1998 the ports of [[Vlissingen]] and [[Terneuzen]] are working as one, under the name of [[Zeeland Seaports]].<ref>[[:nl:Haven van Zeeland]]</ref> Handling 34 million metric tons of cargo in 2012, this is now the third biggest Dutch seaport. For comparison: the nearby [[port of London]] handled 44 million tons in that year.<ref name="RPA Stat13"/>

Through the rivers [[Rhine]] and [[Meuse]], [[Rotterdam]] has excellent access to its [[hinterland]] upstream, reaching to [[Germany]], [[France]] and [[Switzerland]]. The port's main activities are [[petrochemical]] industries and general cargo handling and [[transshipment]]. The harbour functions as an important transit point for [[bulk material handling|bulk materials]] and between the European continent and overseas. From Rotterdam goods are transported by ship, river barge, train or road. In 2007, the [[Betuweroute]], a new fast freight railway from Rotterdam to Germany, was completed.

Three Dutch ports are [[List of Panamax ports|deepwater ports]], that can handle fully laden [[Panamax|Panamax ships]]: [[port of Rotterdam|Rotterdam]], Zeeland Seaports and the port of [[IJmuiden]]. Besides Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Zeeland, the ports of [[Moerdijk]] and [[Vlaardingen]] also support [[Container ship|container liner]] shipping.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldportsource.com/shipping/country/ports/NLD.php |title=World Port Source - Ports with Liner Service in Netherlands |author=Mark E. Waters |website=www.worldportsource.com |publisher=World Port Source |access-date=16 July 2014}}</ref> Other notable port cities are [[Dordrecht]], [[Haarlem]] and [[Den Helder]], as well as [[Groningen (city)|Groningen]], which controls the seaports of [[Delfzijl]] and [[Eemshaven]]. Den Helder is home to the Netherlands' main [[naval base]].