The Port of Rotterdam is more than a gateway for goods. It's one of Europe's most important proving grounds for freight 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, logistics services, and maritime activities, 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 Innovatiekade at Wereldhavendagen Rotterdam, a forward-thinking event 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, from 4-6 September, to discuss your logistics needs and explore how we can work together.
What is Innovatiekade?
Innovatiekade is hosted at the Port of Rotterdam during the Wereldhavendagen, and connects businesses working at the cutting edge of maritime and logistics innovation. Port operators, freight forwarders, technology providers, and cargo owners come together to share ideas, test solutions, and build partnerships that move the industry forward.
For DFDS, it's a natural fit. We've always believed that real progress in logistics doesn't happen in isolation. It happens when the right people come together and ask the right questions.
"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 that momentum directly, bringing practical, scalable solutions to terminal operations, logistics services, and maritime activities that move transformation from vision to reality.
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 chance to connect with partners who share our commitment to building a more efficient and responsible supply chain. Whether that's exploring new short sea shipping routes, advancing our work on reducing emissions across our operations, or improving cargo visibility throughout the journey, these conversations have real commercial and environmental value.
What we're bringing to the table
DFDS operates one of Europe's largest freight ferry networks, with daily sailings connecting key ports across the North Sea, the Baltic, and the Mediterranean. That scale gives us a perspective grounded in the practical realities of moving freight, day in and day out.
"Rotterdam is a port that sets the pace for the rest of Europe. Being at Innovatiekade lets us bring our terminal expertise into the conversation, and look at how we can work with the port community to make freight flows smarter, more reliable, and better connected." - Mikkel Egholm Andersen, VP Head of DFDS Ferry Terminals, DFDS
At Innovatiekade, we're bringing that operational experience alongside concrete action. For us, decarbonisation isn't a future ambition, it's something we're actively delivering today, through practical, scalable solutions across terminal operations, logistics services, and maritime activities. Innovation in action means moving transformation from vision to reality, not just setting targets but building the programmes, partnerships, and infrastructure to meet them. We have set targets to reduce the well-to-wake CO2e intensity of our vessel operations by 45% by 2030, and we're actively developing pathways towards net zero by 2050. We're keen to explore how that work can align with Rotterdam's own sustainability goals and the wider ambitions of the port community.
"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 wider port community, 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 online booking and tracking tools give customers real-time visibility over their shipments, and we see significant potential in expanding those capabilities further through partnerships and shared data platforms.
What we'll be showcasing
Our core display at the Innovatiekade puts real equipment and real solutions front and centre. This is what you can expect to see from DFDS over the weekend.
- Electric truck (eTruck): A live showcase of low-emission logistics capabilities in action, demonstrating what near-zero-emission road freight looks like in practice today.
- Electric terminal tractor: A practical example of how existing terminal assets can be retrofitted and reimagined as more sustainable equipment, without starting from scratch.
- Kalmar electric forklift: Illustrating what modern terminal electrification looks like on the ground, and how we reduce emissions in practice.
- CEYAS Project (with TNO): A DFDS trailer display supported by video content and future technology storytelling, exploring how collaborative research is shaping the next generation of logistics solutions.
- Sustainability and Innovation Media Hub: Alongside the physical displays, we're running a dedicated media hub showcasing video content on the Green Shipping Corridor, shore power, just-in-time (JIT) arrivals, and terminal decarbonisation. It's a chance to go deeper on the topics that matter most to the future of port logistics.
Together, these exhibits reflect our belief that transformation is most powerful when it's tangible, and you can see it for yourself.
The bigger picture
Events like Innovatiekade matter because the freight 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. What the Port of Rotterdam has created with Innovatiekade is a space where collaboration becomes practical, not just aspirational. That's something we find genuinely exciting, and it reflects how we believe the best progress gets made, together.
Come and find us
If you're attending Wereldhavendagen 2026 between 4-6 September and want to talk about freight and decarbonisation, or discover how DFDS can support your supply chain in and out of Rotterdam, we'd love to connect.
Our team will be on hand all weekend to chat about your logistics needs and explore how we can work together.
Not able to make it? Follow us @dfdsglobal for an insider's look at the event.
