About HES
Bulk for life.
Carefully handling bulk since 1908, built to carry Europe's transition on working infrastructure.
HES is one of Europe's leading independent bulk terminal operators. Dry, liquid, and break bulk move through a connected network today; the same terminals expand into CO₂, hydrogen carriers, and cleaner fuels. This page is who we are, the company behind the quay.
Who we are
An independent switch in Europe's supply chain.
We hold a distinctive independent position in bulk logistics, deepwater gateways and hinterland connectivity by barge, rail, and road. Headquartered in Rotterdam. Operated as ONE HES: ten terminals across four countries, handling >100 Mt of dry bulk a year, with 1.9M cbm liquid storage, 1.5M cbm covered storage, and 14 operational sites.
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Our history
A century of bulk, still evolving.
HES has been carefully handling bulk raw materials since 1908. What began as a single Rotterdam grain operation is today an integrated network of bulk terminals across Europe. Scroll to travel through the journey.
Scroll to explore, or jump to a time slot below
Foundations
From 1908
1908
Founding of HES Beheer
Founding of HES Beheer (Haven En Scheepvaart) in Rotterdam. Specialized in the storage of dry bulk products, mainly grain through the Graan Elevator Maatschappij (GEM).
Expansion and consolidation
1985 – 1993
1985
Acquisition of Royal Frans Swarttouw
Acquisition of Royal Frans Swarttouw (transshipment of mainly coal and industrial materials).
Expansion and consolidation
1985 – 1993
1985
EMO and OVET join HES Beheer
Dutch stevedoring companies EMO on the Maasvlakte and OVET in Vlissingen and Terneuzen become part of HES Beheer.
Expansion and consolidation
1985 – 1993
1991
Acquisition of Interstevedoring and OBA
Acquisition of Interstevedoring in Rotterdam and OBA in Amsterdam.
Expansion and consolidation
1985 – 1993
1993
Formation of European Bulk Services
Merge of GEM, Royal Frans Swarttouw, and Interstevedoring into European Bulk Services (EBS).
Diversification
2010 – 2014
2010
First steps into liquid bulk
First steps into liquid bulk, with the conversion of Graansilo BV to HES Botlek Tank Terminal in Rotterdam.
Diversification
2010 – 2014
2011
Acquisition of the Wilhelmshaven refinery
Acquisition of a refinery in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, later converted into a tank terminal and LFSO production unit, now operating as HES Wilhelmshaven Tank Terminal.
Diversification
2010 – 2014
2014
Acquisition of French group Atics Services
HES Beheer acquires French group Atics Services, adding terminals including HES Gdynia Bulk Terminal (Poland) and HES Med Terminals (France) to the portfolio.
Becoming HES International
2015
2015
A new company name
Investment and network growth
2017 – 2021
2017
HES Hartel Tank Terminal announced
HES announces development of HES Hartel Tank Terminal. Declared bankrupt in 2023 before commencing operations, following various set-backs.
Investment and network growth
2017 – 2021
2019
New shareholders in HES International
Infrastructure funds managed by Macquarie Asset Management and West Street Infrastructure Partners III acquire a 50-50 share in HES International.
Investment and network growth
2017 – 2021
2021
OBA acquires IGMA Bulk Terminal
OBA acquires IGMA Bulk Terminal in Amsterdam.
Investment and network growth
2017 – 2021
2021
HES Bulk Terminal Amsterdam
OBA and IGMA merge and continue as HES Bulk Terminal Amsterdam.
Consolidation and one HES brand
2024 – 2025
2024
Sale of non-core assets completed
Completion of sale process of non-core assets (smaller / in-land terminals) in Germany, UK and Belgium.
Consolidation and one HES brand
2024 – 2025
2025
All terminals united under the HES brand
All terminals united under the HES brand, EMO and EBS now called HES Bulk Terminal Rotterdam and HES Bulk Terminal Maasdelta.
Consolidation and one HES brand
2024 – 2025
2025
HES Med Terminals expands in France
HES Med Terminals in France expands operations and is awarded the concession to operate multi-bulk terminal Darse 1.
The next chapter
2030
Further accelerating with our strategy Progress 2030
From a single Rotterdam grain terminal in 1908 to an integrated European network of bulk terminals, the journey continues.
2030
Operational excellence
We run our deepwater terminals reliably, shift after shift. That steady performance generates the income we invest in the future of HES.
Diversified portfolio
We grow across dry, liquid, agri, minerals, and transition cargoes so the portfolio stays relevant as industry and energy systems evolve.
Sustainable model
We turn terminals into gateways for cleaner flows, operating responsibly with people, planet, and product integrity.
What we stand for
Our company values.
Our values show what we care about and how we work, with each other and with our customers. They guide the choices we make every day.
Values only count when you can see them in practice: on a night shift, in a call with a customer, in how we treat each other. These are our four commitments, and we hold ourselves to them as one network.
Safe or we stop
People go home. That comes before tonnage and timelines. If something feels wrong, anyone can stop the work and we expect them to.
Raise the bar every shift
Good enough is not a standard we settle for. We measure, learn and improve so customers meet the same quality at every gate.
Respect beyond the quay
Our responsibility reaches neighbours, the environment and the products we handle. We run clean and accountable, because bulk only stays welcome if we earn that trust.
ONE HES
Local terminals know their ports; the group shares one playbook. We support each other and decide for the network, so customers meet one company.
Leadership
Our Executive Committee.
Day-to-day leadership and realizing our long-term strategy.
HES International has a two-tier board level, which means that management and supervision are separated. The Executive Committee focuses on the day-to-day management of the company and on setting out and realizing its long-term strategy. The Supervisory Board is responsible for supervising the Management Board’s performance and for advising the Management Board.
Paul van Gelder (1969)
Chief Executive Officer / Chairman of the Management Board · Appointed 2025
Paul was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2025. He has led large organisations in C-level roles at Gasunie, Eriks and Royal Imtech. Most recently he served as CEO of Mammoet, the global leader in heavy lifting and transport services.
Mark van Lieshout (1963)
Chief Financial Officer / Member of the Management Board · Appointed 2020
Mark has more than 15 years as a CFO, after finance-director roles and 14 years at ABB. He joined Vattenfall (Nuon) in 2003 and became CFO of Alliander in 2009. At HES he is responsible for accounting and tax, group control, corporate finance, investments and legal.
Jeroen van der Neut (1974)
Chief Operating Officer · Appointed 2023
Jeroen joined HES in 2020 and became COO in 2023. He has led projects in the UK, Germany, Belgium, France and Denmark. Before joining HES, he was CEO of Grontmij Sweden (now part of Sweco) and Transformations Practice Leader at BOLD. He brings extensive experience in operations and in working with complex stakeholder environments.
Joop de Rooij (1961)
Chief Commercial Officer · Appointed 2023
Joop joined HES in October 2023 as CCO, after serving as CEO of Fetim Group. His 30-year record includes KPMG Corporate Finance, KPMG Advisory, SHV Holdings and Advent Private Equity. He focuses on sales, business development and growing the customer base as HES widens its offer.
Supervisory Board & shareholders
Who oversees.
Separated from day-to-day management. Outside judgement on the long view.
The Management Board and the Supervisory Board attach considerable importance to proper corporate governance. They endorse the view that good entrepreneurship, including transparent and ethical conduct by the Management Board and effective supervision thereof by the Supervisory Board, are essential conditions for instilling confidence among the stakeholders. At HES International, the assurances for good corporate governance are found primarily in a culture distinguished by integrity, professionalism and common decency.
Søren Skou
Former Maersk Group CEO, with global logistics and terminal experience.
Experienced logistics industry leader, having held executive roles at Maersk and APM Terminals. Notably served as Maersk Group CEO from 2016 to 2022. Mr. Skou also serves as the Chair of the Maersk McKinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping and as senior advisor to BlackRock Global Infrastructure Partners as well as chairman for two portfolio companies; VTG GmBH and Skyborn Renewables GmBH.
Gordon Parsons
Senior Managing Director at Macquarie Asset Management, infrastructure.
He brings infrastructure-investing experience to the board’s oversight of HES, including the long view that comes with that ownership, without sitting in day-to-day management of the terminals.
Martika Jonk
Independent lawyer and board member at Heijmans and Catharina hospital.
Until 31 December 2023, Mrs. Jonk was an attorney at law with CMS Amsterdam. She is a member of the Supervisory Board of N.V. Heijmans and Catharina Ziekenhuis in Eindhoven.
Robert Clark
Managing Director in Goldman Sachs AM’s infrastructure investing team.
He brings that infrastructure-investing view to supervision of HES, separate from the Executive Committee that runs the company day to day.
John Kraakman
Former CEO of Chane Terminals (once Koole), two decades in liquid bulk.
With more than two decades of executive leadership in liquid bulk. He brings operator-side terminal experience to the Supervisory Board’s oversight of HES’s network and long-term strategy.
Ownership
Built for the long view.
HES International is jointly held by Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 5 and West Street Infrastructure Partners III. These investment vehicles, managed by Macquarie Asset Management and the Goldman Sachs Asset Management Infrastructure business respectively, each hold a 50 per cent equity interest.
Company news
HES in the news
Leadership moves, ownership updates and strategy milestones. It's where you can follow who's steering the company and how our long-term direction is playing out.
Why leadership is the engine behind our strategy
Strong governance and decisive leadership keep HES International aligned with long-term strategic goals.
1 minute read
John Kraakman appointed as member of the Supervisory Board HES International
Governance bench strengthened with deep capital markets and infrastructure expertise.
1 minute read
We are building a future proof HES, step by step
1 minute read