North Sea Port has finalised the issuance of the unique seaport site formerly occupied by Bulk Terminal Zeeland in Vlissingen, The Netherlands, to BOW Terminal. With the signing of the long lease, the issuance is now complete, further positioning North Sea Port as a leader in the offshore industry.

30-Year Partnership

North Sea Port and Breakbulk and Offshore Wind Terminal Vlissingen B.V. (BOW Terminal) have entered into a cooperation agreement for at least 30 years. The site, comprising Quarleskade and surrounding land, is granted on a long lease to BOW Terminal, which will operate under the new name ‘BOW Quarles Terminal’. The company has been active in the Sloe area of Vlissingen since 2010 and specialises in storage, transport and logistics for components for offshore wind farms.

Maarten den Dekker, North Sea Port’s chief sustainability & digital officer, said: “We were looking for a company that has a distinct role in the energy and/or resource transition, conducts deep-sea port-related activities and will make the best use of the existing infrastructure. There was also a particular focus on security and integrity. In choosing BOW Quarles Terminal, we have been able to check all the boxes.”

Leader in the Offshore Industry

With the redevelopment, North Sea Port aims to further establish itself as a top European port for offshore activities and contribute to the energy transition, including the construction of numerous offshore wind farms and landfall sites for wind energy which are essential for industrial electrification. This strengthens Europe’s strategic autonomy, promoting sustainable growth and creating new jobs.

Strategic Location and Infrastructure

With direct access to the North Sea via the Western Scheldt, BOW Quarles Terminal is strategically located. The site covers 33.5 hectares and features the new 700-metre Quarleskade quay. The facility has more than 35,000 square metres of covered storage space for bulk and general cargo.

Quarleskade is suitable for seagoing vessels with a draught of up to 12.5 metres, with the possibility of deepening to 14 metres. From mid-2026, BOW Quarles Terminal will invest in additional quay reinforcement up to 30 tonnes per square metre, further enhancing the site’s suitability for offshore wind project cargo.

Jean Pierre van Lieshout and Sander Maranus, management of BOW Quarles Terminal, said: “At this location, we will be further expanding our offshore wind activities and focusing on bulk cargo handling. We are very excited about this long-term partnership to further develop our operations at this unique location, which will enable us to attract new large-scale projects and offer associated storage and transshipment, for example for boulders used as rockfill.”

From Closure to Redevelopment

In consultation with the receivers, North Sea Port started looking for an operator for the exceptional seaport site previously used by Bulk Terminal Zeeland (BTZ) in spring 2025. BTZ had closed down and then been declared bankrupt. After completing the selection phase at the end of June 2025, the receivers and the port authority reached a preliminary agreement with BOW Terminal. The transfer of the Quarleskade terminal completes the contract phase of the issuance process.

For more information visit www.northseaport.com/nl