The Netherlands is gaining momentum in the field of Connected, Cooperative & Automated Mobility (CCAM), with several promising developments underway. From autonomous shuttles in Rotterdam to advanced trials at Schiphol and the Port of Rotterdam, public-private collaboration is clearly accelerating. Yet a cohesive national strategy remains absent. As Europe moves from research to deployment, the Netherlands must now focus on alignment, structure, and a shared vision to maintain its position at the forefront of CCAM innovation.
Geplaatst op 10 juli 2025
The Netherlands is actively positioning itself in the European landscape of Connected, Cooperative & Automated Mobility (CCAM). Over the past months, several initiatives have accelerated, pilots are starting again, and public-private collaboration is gaining traction. Yet despite this momentum, there is still no clear national direction.
Recent developments underscore this contrast:
- Autonomous shuttles will soon be operational in Rotterdam, connecting The Hague Airport and metro station Meijersplein—an initiative by Rebel Group, supported by local and PT authorities.
- Schiphol Airport is preparing for autonomous operations on the airside, and explicitly seeks to develop a shared autonomous foundation with ecosystem partners.
- The Port of Rotterdam is scaling up its autonomous yard tractor pilots, moving from private premises to supervised road deployment along the Container Exchange Route.
- Technology providers like V-Tron and MST Group are introducing robust sensing systems and vehicle platforms for tele-operations, aimed at industrial logistics services.
- Meanwhile, European funding and regulation (via Horizon Europe and UNECE WP.29) are aligning in support of deployment, not just research.
Yet major challenges remain:
There is no clear legal framework to address liability, certification, and operational rules for autonomous vehicles in the Netherlands. High-quality digital and physical infrastructure, like 5G networks and smart traffic systems, must be widely implemented. And most importantly, effective cooperation between government, industry, and research institutions is essential but complex due to differing interests.
The CCAM knowledge session hosted by Connekt-ITS Netherlands on July 2nd 2025 at NIO House Rotterdam confirmed this duality: high ambition, active projects, strong capabilities—but a lack of shared system perspective.
What’s needed now is consolidation and alignment.
Connekt (ITS Netherlands) is working towards a national CCAM consortium to identify blind spots, set priorities, and create a structured foundation for implementation. After the summer, a dedicated workshop will be held with interested partners to shape this effort, starting with autonomous airport use cases.
The window of opportunity is open. The Netherlands has the potential to keep up again—but only if we move forward together.
Join the conversation
Are you a Connekt member and interested in shaping the future of CCAM in the Netherlands?
Get in touch with Marije de Nijs (Smart Mobility Embassy – hosted by Connekt-ITS Netherlands) or Tom van Dam (Connekt-ITS Netherlands) to join the conversation.