Dutch Asphalt webinar 2021

Organised by “Vakgroep Bitumineuze Werken van Bouwend Nederland” (VBW) with support from Eurobitume Benelux, the Asphalt 2021 webinar was chaired by online facilitator Nathan de Groot. Organisers were particularly interested in hearing the views of the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, as it is an important customer of the asphalt sector.

The webinar covered various topics, including discussions and exchanges on: 

1. The commitment by the association of asphalt mix producers in the Netherlands and VBW to phasing out the production of hot mix asphalt mixtures, which will make a significant contribution to the reduction of CO₂ emissions during asphalt production. They also indicated that the use of clear binders will be phased out.
2. The transition path for sustainable road surfacing from the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management in the Netherlands.
3. Whether or not the future use of bitumen is still sustainable, or if the large-scale application of other binders should be implemented! [This was raised by the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management.]
4. The Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management making innovation funding available for the development of an emission-free, hydrogen heated asphalt plant that clients and contractors will work on together.
5. The pilot application of an electric asphalt plant for work on the A348, which showed that this innovation could give the sustainable production of asphalt an enormous boost.

Finally, VBW chairman Stefan de Munck and Benny Nieswaag, from the Dutch Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, discussed developments in the sector.

To view the webinar in full, visit the Bouwend Nederland website here.