On the 14th of November, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands visited companies and institutions from the hydrogen sector in North Rhine-Westphalia. He was accompanied by the Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wüst, and the State Secretary in the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate, Hans Vijlbrief.
At the port of Duisburg, Ms Jeannette Baljeu and Ms Mona Neubaur, both Regional Ministers from Zuid-Holland and North Rhine-Westphalia respectively, had the privilege of presenting the RH2INE network and highlighting its efforts and importance of the close partnership between the Netherlands and North Rhine-Westphalia. Whilst the primary focus of the Royal delegation's visit was on hydrogen, it presented a valuable chance to apprise His Majesty and his team regarding the cross-border initiative RH2INE and the diligently progressing projects, including H2 CONDOR and the follow-up project of Drivetrain in North Rhine-Westphalia, which align with the initiative’s collective endeavor to establish a zero-emission transport corridor along the Rhine.
Alongside the RH2INE network member Harm Lenten, NPRC showcased his contribution to making the transport corridor more sustainable. He sailed to Duisburg for the occasion to give the King a tour on board of the MS Antonie, the world's first new construction of a hydrogen-electric container ship, currently being prepared to be sailing on hydrogen, and a pioneer and example of the technical and economic feasibility of emission-free inland vessels.