On June 24 and 25, AIVP brought together 28 members of the Port Center Working Group in Rotterdam (the Netherlands) for the 9th meeting of the network since its creation in 2011.

Day one: an immersive day at Portlantis

Participants were welcomed on Tuesday morning at Portlantis, the new experience center located in Maasvlakte within the Port of Rotterdam.

The morning session introduced the concept and development of Portlantis through presentations by representatives from the Port of Rotterdam, the EIC Mainport Information Center, and Erasmus University. This first exchange concluded with a guided tour of the site.

The afternoon discussions focused on the current dynamics of active Port Centers. Representatives from Le Havre (France), Antwerp (Belgium), Livorno (Italy), and Dunkirk (France) shared their experiences, highlighting the challenges they have faced throughout their development as well as their perspectives for the years ahead.

Through a keynote led by Eva BOO, participants were also able to explore European funding opportunities, particularly through Erasmus+, before discovering the ambitions of new Port Center projects in Marseille (France), Barcelona (Spain), and Maputo (Mozambique).

The day ended with a boat tour of the Maasvlakte, followed by a dinner on board.

Day two: focus on socio-cultural integration of Port Centers

On Wednesday, the group gathered at the Maritime Museum for a morning dedicated to synergies between heritage, culture, and port identity. After an opening session focusing on the artistic and programmatic vision of Portlantis by Piet-Harm STERK from the audiovisual agency BIND, speakers shared initiatives aimed at streghtening the socio-cultural integration of ports within their local communites, such as Dublin, Taranto, and Guadeloupe.

The meeting concluded with two higlights: a keynote by Professor Carola HEIN on the challenges of connecting ports and local communities, and the presentation of the AIVP’s 2025-2026 roadmap, outlining key actions and short-to-mid-term goals for the network.

The 9th workshop concluded with a visit to the Port Pavilion, highlighting a shared commitment to cooperation, dialogue, and collective experience.