Turbine installation gets underway from Eemshaven
Friday 29 May 2026
The installation of the wind turbines for Ecowende's Hollandse Kust West offshore wind farm officially commenced last night from the port of Eemshaven. This marks a significant milestone for Groningen Seaports: Hollandse Kust West is the 25th offshore wind farm for which offshore installation activities are being executed from Eemshaven. Construction of the wind farm, located approximately 53 kilometres off the Dutch coast near IJmuiden, had already begun at the Maasvlakte, where the turbine foundations were fabricated at Sif and loaded-out. With the start of turbine installation, Eemshaven now takes on a central role in the project's execution.
The inter array cables for the wind farm were also manufactured in Eemshaven, at TKF. The final cables departed by ship from Eemshaven last week en route to the wind farm, where they will be installed offshore.
Load-out of towers
Over the past months, components for the 52 Vestas wind turbines have been arriving at Buss Terminal Eemshaven via both the Beatrixhaven and Julianahaven. Dozens of tower sections are now staged along the Julianahaven quayside. The towers — roughly the same height as the Martinitoren in Groningen — are lifted aboard Van Oord's installation vessel Boreas in upright position and transported in the same orientation to the offshore site. This week saw the first load-out of tower sections take place.
"The start of turbine installation for Hollandse Kust West marks yet another important milestone for Eemshaven. The fact that 25 offshore wind farms are now being supported from our port demonstrates how vital Eemshaven has become to the Northwest European offshore wind sector. We are proud to be contributing alongside Ecowende to a project where innovation, sustainability and ecology come together," said Bart-Jan Hoevers, CEO of Groningen Seaports.
Ecology and nature restoration playing a central role
Ecowende is internationally recognised as a pioneering project, with ecology and nature restoration playing a central role in the wind farm's design, construction and operation. Innovative measures are being applied to the turbines to improve protection for birds and bats.
"With the start of turbine installation from Eemshaven, a new phase in the realisation of Hollandse Kust West has begun. The collaboration with partners in Eemshaven, with their extensive and high-quality facilities, is invaluable in this regard. Together, we are building a wind farm that not only generates renewable energy but also sets new benchmarks for nature protection and nature-inclusive offshore development," said Folkert Visser, Project Director at Ecowende.
Eemshaven has played a key role in the development of offshore wind energy for many years. Wind farms are constructed, maintained and supplied from the port. The combination of deep-draft waterways, available land, specialist companies and a strong maritime supply chain makes Eemshaven an attractive base for large-scale offshore projects. With 25 offshore wind farms now realised, Groningen Seaports reaffirms its position as one of Europe's leading offshore wind hubs.