The Netherlands and Belgium are home to numerous best practices in aggregates production and are also integral to the wider European construction and quarrying machinery market. However, big challenges still need to be overcome. Aggregates Business Editor GUY WOODFORD reports.
The Netherlands and Belgium have long been popular destinations for international off-highway equipment manufacturers seeking a central and transport infrastructure-rich base for their European operations. It was therefore no surprise that Develon recently staged the official opening of its new Parts Distribution Centre (PDC) in Boom, Belgium, marking a significant step in its strategy to enhance customer service and accelerate growth in the European market.
When it comes to aggregate production, the Netherlands and Belgium are also well-regarded throughout Europe for their environmentally conscious quarrying methods and the quality of their final-grade products.
According to the latest Aggregates Europe—UEPG figures, in 2022, the Netherlands had 237 aggregates producers (companies) working across 280 extraction sites (quarries and pits), producing just over 90 million tonnes of aggregates that year (49.4 million tonnes of sand and gravel, 17.4 million tonnes of marine aggregates, and 23.5 million tonnes of recycled aggregates). In the same year, Belgium had 79 aggregate producers (companies) working across 112 extraction sites (quarries & pits), producing 74 million tonnes of aggregates (6.2 million tonnes of sand and gravel, 38.4 million tonnes of crushed rock, 7 million tonnes of marine aggregates, and 21.9 million tonnes of recycled aggregates).
CASCADE is the Netherlands’ aggregates association, whose member companies account for 90% of the high-quality aggregates produced every year on national land and riversides.
Leonie van der Voort, director of CASCADE, notes that her association’s members primarily produce aggregates for the concrete industry, with approximately 15 million cubic yards of concrete produced annually in the Netherlands.
“In the Netherlands, we currently face a major issue with nitrogen emissions. Due to this nitrogen problem, which poses a serious threat to biodiversity and nature, virtually all construction permit issuance has come to a halt,” explains van der Voort.
“And when construction permits are not being granted, there is no demand for aggregates either. A decline in demand may present a serious challenge for businesses that depend on operational continuity.
“The permitting process for the aggregates sector itself has also become a major issue due to the nitrogen problem. We hope this issue will be resolved soon, but it’s proving to be very difficult.
“It’s closely tied to livestock farming, which is a major sector in the Netherlands. At this point, we still don’t know exactly how the government plans to solve the nitrogen problem.”
CASCADE’s director says the Netherlands also faces a huge challenge in housing construction, with a current shortage of one million homes.
“This also requires infrastructure, such as roads and bridges. In addition, we need to move forward with climate adaptation. The country must strengthen its dikes and ensure that the Netherlands remains safe.
“This combination—the inability to obtain new permits for the extraction of essential construction materials, alongside the urgent need for housing and climate adaptation—creates a strong sense of urgency to find a solution.
“It’s incredible that our biggest challenge as Dutch aggregate producers right now is convincing authorities that essential raw materials—like sand and gravel—are still needed for construction and infrastructure.
“There is such strong enthusiasm for the idea of a circular economy that some have come to believe that primary raw materials are no longer necessary. This presents a major challenge: using facts and figures to make policymakers, many of whom have no background in our sector, understand the urgent need for new extraction permits. This is particularly pressing because our current extraction permits are nearing expiration.”
While van der Voort says that a lot of research has shown that countries can and should reuse materials like concrete, she stresses that, at most, this will only cover a maximum of 15- 20% of total demand.
“Maybe we’re a bit too optimistic, but even so, let’s give it a try, why not? If we don’t aim high, we’ll never move things forward. But 15-20% is simply the maximum amount of material that becomes available from demolition in the Netherlands,” she explains.
“This estimate is not specific to the Netherlands – it applies to much of Europe. The remaining 80% will, therefore, have to come from primary extraction.”
As van der Voort notes, an additional benefit of Dutch extraction projects is that they are part of broader regional development efforts, allowing the Netherlands to achieve many other societal goals.
“These include water retention, the creation of nature reserves, improving river flood safety, supporting the energy transition, and developing recreational areas.
“If we stop extraction, we will no longer be able to realise these goals — at least not at the expense of the private sector.”
The Dutch government has expressed its intention to make the country as self-sufficient as possible. It has also emphasised that it does not wish to offload the Netherlands ‘resource demands onto other nations.
“Importing essential construction materials from countries far from the Netherlands is undesirable due to the significant environmental footprint it entails,” van der Voort continues.
“One thing must be clear: stopping the extraction of primary raw materials will not support the circular economy. On the contrary, it will bring everything to a standstill. Make no mistake about that. It will put both the economy and social well-being at risk. It will jeopardise both economic stability and the social well-being of our society. The implications are far-reaching and cannot be ignored.”
GloblData, a leading business intelligence consultancy, reports that the Netherlands construction market was worth $173.1 billion in 2023. The market is expected to achieve an AAGR (average annual growth rate) of more than 2% from 2025 to 2028. Investment in the industrial, infrastructure, and residential sectors, coupled with the government’s focus on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and becoming a net-zero carbon emissions economy by 2050, will support the Dutch construction market growth during the forecast period. Government investments in transport infrastructure, aimed at reducing congestion, will further drive growth in the Netherlands’ construction market.
GlobalData reports that following an annual growth of 1.2% in 2024, the Belgian construction industry is expected to register growth of 2.6% in real terms in 2025, supported by investments in infrastructure, residential and industrial construction. According to the National Bank of Belgium (NBB), the construction industry’s value added grew by 1.5% year-on-year in Q3 2024, preceded by a year-on-year growth of 1.4% in Q2 and a decline of 0.4% in Q1 2024.
GlobalData expects the industry to registering an annual growth of 3.2% from 2026 to 2029, supported by public and private sector investments in transport infrastructure, energy and utility projects, coupled with the government aims to increase the share of renewable energy in its total gross fixed energy consumption from 13% in 2020 to 17.5% by 2030. Among recent developments, in November 2024, De Watergroep, a Belgian water company, secured a €350 million loan from the European Investment Bank to upgrade drinking water infrastructure in Flanders. Furthermore, in November 2024, the country began the construction of Princess Elisabeth, an artificial island in the North Sea, to serve as an energy hub connecting offshore wind farms to shore. The project, valued at €650 million, is expected to be completed by 2027.
Despite Belgium’s small surface area, its geological wealth has made it a country home to 130 quarrying sites. FEDIEX is the Belgian federation for the extractive industry, with both regional and national scope. It unites companies of all sizes involved in the extraction and/or processing of non-combustible rocks.
“As of early 2025, demand for aggregates in Belgium is showing a modest increase of approximately 2% compared to the previous year, based on the first four months of data. Over the past five years, annual consumption has averaged around 90 million tonnes,” says Michel Calozet, Fediex’s Secretary-General.
“A striking feature of the Belgian market is the high share of recycled aggregates, which account for nearly one-quarter of total demand. These are primarily sourced from construction and demolition waste. This positions Belgium among the leading European countries in terms of recycled aggregate usage.
“Belgium, however, remains a net importer of aggregates, bringing in about 7 million tonnes annually. The vast majority of these imports consist of marine sand, sourced mainly from the Netherlands.”
Commenting on the main factors currently influencing this demand, and how it is expected to evolve over the next 12 to 18 months, Calozet says: “The aggregates industry is closely tied to the construction sector, which remains under significant pressure across much of the European Union. This pressure is partly a result of constrained public spending, shaped by ongoing geopolitical dynamics.
“In Belgium, the residential construction sector has been in decline for two to three years. However, there are signs that this trend may be bottoming out, suggesting the possibility of a gradual recovery in the coming years.
“On the other hand, the civil engineering segment—heavily dependent on political decisions—has remained relatively stable, thanks to infrastructure projects launched in recent years. This provides some assurance of short-term continuity and even mild growth.
“Nevertheless, confidence among construction contractors is low, with increasing numbers of bankruptcies and a persistent shortage of skilled labour affecting the pace and scope of building activities.”
Calozet notes that operational challenges confronting Belgian aggregates producers fall into three broad categories: Land use and regulatory uncertainty, Climate and energy, and Circular economy and recycling.
“Administrative procedures related to land-use planning and environmental permitting are complex and often lead to delays or obstacles in accessing mineral deposits. Although Belgium’s subsoil is rich in both quality and quantity, land-use conflicts and rising spatial pressures complicate the development of new sites or the expansion of existing ones.
“To address this, the sector has developed trust-based partnerships with key stakeholders and public bodies. These include the agriculture sector, water utilities, transport providers, and public agencies such as the Walloon Air and Climate Agency and the Department of Nature and Forests. Regular knowledge-sharing exchanges help foster a constructive dialogue.”
Calzolet says Belgian and European climate commitments to reduce CO₂ emissions are forcing Belgian aggregates producers to rethink their operational models. “Since 2004, the industry has been engaged in sectoral agreements with regional authorities, aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.
“These efforts have delivered measurable results: in just under two decades, the industry has achieved a 20 % improvement in energy efficiency per tonne produced, relative to 2005 levels.
“However, the recent geopolitical context has led to sharp increases in energy costs, which are difficult to pass on to clients, putting financial pressure on producers.”
Calozet says the aggregates industry sees itself as the starting point of the circular economy. With one of the highest recycled aggregate usage rates in Europe, Fediex’s Secretary-General stresses that the sector is committed to promoting reuse and responsible material management.
He continues: “Producers call for equal regulatory treatment between natural and recycled aggregates, arguing for a level playing field in both administrative procedures and technical standards. The principle of using “the right aggregate in the right place” guides their approach. Ensuring clear and fair rules for both material types is essential to avoid distortion in the market and ensure optimal use of resources.”
Fediex has launched several initiatives to raise awareness about the importance of securing high-quality aggregate resources—both natural and recycled—within Belgium.
One key tool is the Quadraria News, a regular communication sent to a wide audience including institutional stakeholders, policymakers, and construction industry players. It highlights the latest actions and innovations within the sector.
Fediex is also updating its website, which showcases the industry’s achievements in areas such as sustainability, circular practices, and partnerships with other sectors.
Calozet highlights further Fediex projects and initiatives. “The federation hosts an annual Mineral Industry Day, which draws nearly 200 participants. Each year, the event features a specific theme, includes site visits, and presents a live blast demonstration, helping participants understand the technical and environmental realities of quarrying operations.
“Fediex has been officially recognised by the Walloon Region as a sustainable organisation in the context of the sustainable development goals, underscoring its role in promoting responsible industry practices.
“Finally, the federation has commissioned a comprehensive, forward-looking study on the future of aggregates in Belgium. This work is being conducted by an independent foresight institute in collaboration with BENOR, a Belgian quality assurance association. Results are expected in the near future and will be shared in a forthcoming publication.”
Asked by Aggregates Business about the role sustainability plays in the Belgian aggregates industry, and how Fediex supports its members in this area, Calozet responds: “Sustainability is central to the vision and operations of Belgium’s aggregates sector. For nearly two decades, producers have been committed to reducing their environmental footprint, improving energy performance, and integrating operations into the surrounding communities.
“Fediex actively supports its members by promoting cross-sectoral partnerships, highlighting best practices, and ensuring the industry’s recognition as a responsible stakeholder in Belgium’s sustainable development strategy.
“Through a combination of long-term engagement, transparent communication, and collaborative innovation, the sector aims to reconcile economic activity with environmental responsibility and social acceptance.”
