North Sea Port has finalised the transfer of the unique seaport site formerly occupied by Bulk Terminal Zeeland in Vlissingen 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.
North Sea Port and Breakbulk and Offshore Wind Terminal Vlissingen B.V. (BOW Terminal) have entered into a cooperation agreement for a minimum of 30 years. The site, including the Quarleskade and surrounding land, will be leased to BOW Terminal, which will operate under the new name ‘BOW Quarles Terminal’. This company has been active in the Sloe area in Vlissingen since 2010 as a marshalling yard and specialises in the storage, transport and logistics of components for offshore wind farms.
"We were looking for a company that plays 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," says Maarten den Dekker, Chief Sustainability & Digital Officer at North Sea Port. "In addition, there was 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.
Access to the North Sea
With direct access to the North Sea via the Western Scheldt, BOW Quarles Terminal is extremely conveniently located. It covers 33.5 hectares and features the new 700-metre Quarleskade quay. The site has more than 35,000m² of covered storage space for bulk and general cargo.
The Quarleskade is suitable for seagoing vessels with a draught of up to 12.5m, with the possibility of deepening to 14m. From mid-2026, BOW Quarles Terminal will be investing in additional quay reinforcement. From mid-2026, BOW Quarles Terminal will invest in additional quay reinforcement up to 30t/m², further enhancing the site’s suitability for offshore wind project cargo.
"At this location, we will further expand our offshore wind activities and focus 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 transhipment, for example, for boulders used as rockfill," say Jean Pierre van Lieshout and Sander Maranus, Management, BOW Quarles Terminal.
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 the spring of 2025. BTZ had closed down and subsequently gone 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. With the transfer of this Quarleskade terminal, the contract phase of the issuance process has been completed.
Image: North Sea Port
