The Port of Rotterdam is more than a strategic hub for freight transport. It's one of Europe's most important proving grounds for maritime innovation, sustainability, and the future of supply chains. At DFDS, we're not just talking about transformation, we're moving it from vision to reality.
Across our terminal operations as well as logistics and freight shipping services, we're putting innovation into action and developing practical, scalable solutions that make a genuine difference.
That’s why we’re proud to be part of the Innovatiekade exhibition at World Port Days (Wereldhavendagen), a forward-thinking event in Rotterdam that brings together logistics professionals, innovators, and industry leaders to work on what comes next.
Going to be there, too? We’d love to chat! Our team will be on hand all weekend 4-6 September 2026 to discuss your logistics needs and explore how we can work together.
What is Innovatiekade?
The Innovatiekade exhibition is part of World Port Days at the Port of Rotterdam, and connects companies at the forefront of maritime and logistics innovation. Port operators, freight forwarders, and technology providers come together to share ideas, test solutions, and build partnerships that move the industry forward.
For DFDS, it’s a natural fit, as we believe that developing better logistics solutions requires different perspectives and expertise.
"Innovatiekade is exactly the kind of platform we want to be part of. Transformation in this industry isn't something that can happen alone or in silos. It takes shared ambition, honest dialogue, and the willingness to build something better together. That's what we're here for." - Dita Bruijn, Head of Transformation, DFDS
Why we're getting involved
Rotterdam is one of Europe's busiest and most strategically important ports, and it's fast becoming a centre for more efficient, lower-emission freight operations. Being part of Innovatiekade gives us the opportunity to contribute to this transformation by sharing practical, scalable solutions for terminal operations, logistics services and freight shipping.
We're there to listen as much as we are to share. The challenges facing port logistics today, from decarbonisation and digitisation to capacity and supply chain resilience, require honest conversations and collaborative thinking. Innovatiekade creates exactly that space.
It also gives us the opportunity to connect with partners who share our commitment to building more efficient and sustainable supply chains. Whether that means exploring new short sea shipping routes, reducing emissions across our operations or improving end-to-end shipment visibility, these conversations can lead to practical solutions with both commercial and environmental benefits.
What we're bringing to the table
DFDS operates one of Europe's largest maritime transport networks, with daily sailings between key ports across the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the Mediterranean. This scale gives us practical insight into the day-to-day realities of transporting goods.
"Rotterdam is a port that sets the pace for the rest of Europe. Taking part in the Innovatiekade exhibition lets us bring our terminal expertise into the conversation, and look at how we can work with the port's many actors to make the movement of goods smarter, more reliable, and better connected." - Mikkel Egholm Andersen, VP Head of DFDS Ferry Terminals, DFDS
At Innovatiekade, we’re bringing that operational experience together with practical action. For us, decarbonisation isn’t a future ambition; it’s already part of how we operate, through practical, scalable solutions across terminal operations, logistics services and freight shipping. Innovation in action means turning plans into results: not just setting targets, but building the programmes, partnerships and infrastructure needed to achieve them. We’re keen to share what we’re learning and explore how our work can contribute to Rotterdam’s sustainability goals and the wider ambitions of the port’s actors.
"The port environment is one of the most important spaces for us to be having these conversations. Our target for vessel operations is a 45% reduction in well-to-wake CO2e intensity by 2030, and to be net zero by 2050. Events like Innovatiekade help us understand how our progress with both emissions reductions and energy security can connect with the ambitions of the port's many actors, and where we can accelerate together." - Sophie-Kim Chapman, VP Decarbonisation and Energy Security, DFDS
We're also focused on the digital side of logistics. Our digital booking and tracking tools give customers real-time visibility of their shipments, and we see significant potential to expand those capabilities further through partnerships and shared data platforms.
What we'll be showcasing
Our display at Innovatiekade brings real equipment and practical solutions together in one place. This is what you can expect to see from DFDS over the weekend.
- Electric truck: A real-world demonstration of low-emission road transport, showing what near-zero-emission logistics operations look like today.
- Electric terminal tractor: A practical example of how existing terminal equipment can be converted to electric power, extending its useful life while reducing emissions.
- Kalmar electric forklift: Illustrating what modern terminal electrification looks like, and how we reduce emissions in practice.
- CEYAS Project (with TNO): A DFDS trailer display supported by video content, highlighting how collaborative research can contribute to the next generation of logistics solutions.
- Sustainability and Innovation Media Hub: Alongside the physical displays, we're running a dedicated media hub featuring videos on the green shipping corridor, shore power, just-in-time (JIT) arrivals, and terminal decarbonisation. It offers a closer look at some of the key developments shaping the future of port logistics.
Together, these exhibits give visitors the opportunity to see first-hand how new technologies and solutions are transforming logistics.
The bigger picture
Events like Innovatiekade matter because the transport and logistics industry is at a genuine inflection point. Regulation is tightening, customer expectations are rising, and the pressure to reduce emissions is real. No single operator can navigate all of that alone. With Innovatiekade, the Port of Rotterdam has created a space where collaboration can lead to practical solutions, not just ideas. That’s something we find genuinely exciting, and it reflects how we believe meaningful change happens: by working together.
Come and find us
If you're attending World Port Days 2026 from 4-6 September, come and talk to our team about logistics solutions and decarbonisation, and how DFDS can support your company's transport needs via Rotterdam. We’d love to connect and explore how we can work together.
Not able to make it? Follow us on Instagram at @dfdsglobal for an inside look at the event.
