Water-bound land in inland ports is essential for maintaining seaport–hinterland connectivity, yet its loss or non-mobilisation is rarely considered as a network risk. This paper develops a risk-based framework to assess how shortages of water-bound land in inland ports may affect the Port of Rotterdam. A qualitative multiple-case study of Tiel, Tilburg, Nijmegen, and Venlo combines GIS-based parcel analysis, policy and planning documents, inland-waterway freight data, and semi-structured interviews. Risk is assessed as the product of likelihood and impact, considering land availability, policy recognition and implementation commitment, modal-shift potential, Rotterdam-related flows, regional substitutability, and corridor position.

The results show that land adjacent to waterways is not necessarily available for water-bound use. Conversion often depends on private ownership, relocation, land acquisition, restructuring, and sufficient public funding. The cases demonstrate that governance plays a decisive role. Tiel combines high strategic relevance with limited local recognition and commitment, while Tilburg illustrates how proactive policy, land management, and relocation support can preserve water-bound functions. Venlo shows the limits of governance intervention where structural spatial scarcity dominates.

The study concludes that water-bound land should be treated as a critical spatial precondition for hinterland connectivity. Seaport authorities should therefore adopt differentiated roles focused on agenda-setting, knowledge sharing, coordination, and targeted funding advocacy rather than routine direct intervention in inland-port land markets. ... Read more