The Port of Venlo
Unlike the neighbouring ports, Antwerp or Rotterdam, the Port of Venlo is not a deep-sea location. However, the port does work with both of these ports by way of inland barge, transporting both bulk and containerised cargoes.
Alongside the barge terminal are Venlo’s three rail terminals, capable of managing 12 trains per day, and 800,000 TEUs annually. It is the largest inland rail terminal in The Netherlands.
The Port of Venlo is operated by Hutchinson Ports, who also manage the Port of Felixstowe.
The history of Venlo as a trading post
Venlo became a city more than 600 years ago, chosen for its connection to roads and safe water. “Safe” water not only being good to drink but also shallow and mild enough to prevent drowning.
The town quickly became a large settlement that many merchants travelled through and was a prized possession used to supply many sieging armies during the Middle Ages. During this time, the French, the Spanish, and the Dutch Republic all had control of Venlo at some point.
At the end of France’s occupation in the 19th century, the city became part of the United Kingdom of The Netherlands as part of the Province of Limburg.
Venlo became a target for the Allies during World War II, who sought to destroy the bridge over the Maas River and impact supply chains to the Western front. The city also sustained heavy damages, but it was rapidly rebuilt in the years after the war.
Over the last 70 years, Venlo has grown into a logistics hotspot for supply chains throughout Europe, transporting over 11 million tonnes of cargo by rail alone.
Customs Support Venlo
Our Venlo office is also our quality and innovation hub, employing more than 40 people across a range of functions. In this office, you’ll find teams for:
Customer service (import clearance, export declarations, customs consultancy, gas safety)
Finance
Sales
Quality and Compliance
Research and development
Customs Support Venlo is a recognised training company for people entering the industry in the area, working with local schools.
If you are interested in showcasing your skills in a driven team, check out our careers page to see our vacancies in Venlo.
Did you know?
Venlo used to be a fortress city, following the completion of the Sint-Michiel Fort in the 17th century. The fort was rebuilt and extended in the first half of the 19th century and renamed Fort Leopold. Remnants of both forts were demolished in the second half of the 19th century.
St Martin’s Church in Venlo dates back to the 10th century when it was a wooden temple. It was upgraded to a gothic-style church in the 15th century and was awarded the honorary title of Basilica Minor by Pope Francis in 2018.
Venlo used to be a city of the Hanseatic League, a collection of trade guilds that had a monopoly on trade across the Baltic Sea and most of Northern Europe between the 13th and 17th centuries.
Need Customs Support in Venlo?
Customs Support Venlo provide a full range of customs services for businesses that can leverage this key European crossroads. Contact us for more information.
