THE HAGUE, April 30 (Xinhua) -- As tension in the Middle East continues to disrupt global supply chains, rail freight between China and the Netherlands is gaining renewed momentum, with more cargo shifting from sea to rail, Dutch logistics firms BTT Multimodal Container Solutions (BTT) and Coastlink told Xinhua recently in an interview, adding that they are preparing for further growth in this sector.
"Since February, we've seen a remarkable increase in train arrivals," said Roland Verbraak, general manager of BTT. The company handled between 10 and 15 freight trains from China to Tilburg in the Netherlands during the first quarter of this year, eight times than that in 2025.
BTT operates a key terminal in Tilburg, a major European hub on the China-Europe freight route. The route originates in Chengdu, China and runs through Russia, Belarus, Poland and Germany before reaching Tilburg. Since last November, BTT's rail forwarding activities to and from China have been transferred to Coastlink, a Tilburg-based logistics provider active in sea, air, and rail freight, including customs handling and forwarding services.
"We now have significantly more clients requesting rail solutions than before. Volumes have increased compared to the period prior to Coastlink's acquisition of BTT freight management parts," said Bram Claassen, general manager of Coastlink, part of the family-owned company Claassen Logistics founded in 1850.
The broader trend is reflected in data released by China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. in April. In this first quarter, China-Europe freight train services recorded 5,460 trips, transporting 546,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), registering year-on-year increases of 29 percent and 22 percent, respectively. These figures highlight rail's growing role as a reliable logistics corridor across Eurasia.
Claassen noted that rail freight is particularly attractive for time-sensitive shipments. Seasonal goods, high-value products, and items with strict delivery deadlines are increasingly transported by train.
"Rail is reliable and relatively fast," Verbraak added. "With ocean vessels becoming larger-up to 23,000 TEUs-loading and unloading takes much longer. That's another reason clients are shifting."
However, rising demand is also tightening capacity. "It has become more challenging to secure space on trains," Claassen said. "They are often fully booked well in advance."
Both Verbraak and Claassen expressed hope that additional train services from China will be introduced.
"We are ready to receive more trains," Verbraak said. "Our infrastructure could support up to two trains per day."
He expects the upward trend to continue, driven in part by strong European demand for Chinese products. "Labor and material costs in China remain highly competitive," Verbraak said. "We are seeing increasing volumes of Chinese goods entering Europe-cars, batteries, and electric buses-with quality comparable to European products."
To meet rising demand, BTT is expanding its capacity. The company has begun construction of a new warehouse facility dedicated to household battery storage, scheduled for completion by the end of the year for a Chinese multinational client.
"We are optimistic about the future," Claassen said. "We are not just adapting to change-we are actively investing in growth, including new systems and new talent. We are also welcoming more Chinese employees into our team, both in the Netherlands and at our office in Chengdu."
"It's not just about shifting transport modes," Verbraak said. "It's about responding to global developments and growing together with our partners. We are ready to grow alongside China." ■