Which European port is the busiest by container throughput?

The Port of Rotterdam is Europe’s busiest port by container throughput.

Container throughput is measured in TEUs, or twenty-foot equivalent units, a standard way to compare containers of different sizes. Rotterdam handled about 14.2 million TEUs in 2025, remaining ahead of Antwerp-Bruges at roughly 13.6 million. Its position reflects both enormous terminal capacity and its links to inland Europe.

Rotterdam sits at the mouth of the Rhine–Meuse delta on the North Sea. The port’s deep-water facilities connect it with major ocean routes, while barges, railways, pipelines and roads distribute cargo across the Netherlands, Germany and beyond. Its Maasvlakte terminals were built and expanded specifically for large container ships.

A common mix-up is confusing container throughput with total cargo tonnage. Rotterdam also leads Europe in overall maritime freight, but those are different rankings: containers are counted in TEUs, while bulk cargo such as oil, coal and ore is generally measured by weight.