The Hague, 1 October 2020 – On 30 September, together with local organisations and the construction firm, PostNL celebrated the start of the construction work for a new parcel sorting centre at HoogTij business park in Westzaan. The Economy Alderman for Zaanstad, Hans Krieger, and Operations Manager of PostNL Pakketten, Iris van Wees, together symbolically laid the foundation stone for the sustainable new premises. The new location in Westzaan will help increase capacity for sorting and distributing parcels. PostNL expects to be able to process between 40,000 and 50,000 parcels there on a daily basis. PostNL is continuing its efforts to scale up and invest in new sorting locations in order to grow together with customers.
Iris van Wees, Operations Manager of PostNL Pakketten: ‘Covid-19 has changed consumers’ behaviour. They’re placing more and more online orders. We have responded to the rapid growth in volume by scaling up our capacity by 40%. In the run up to the holidays period, we will be continuing those efforts and investing in new locations in order to optimise the delivery process in the growing parcel market. We will be opening two new parcel locations in the Netherlands next year. The sustainable premises in Westzaan is one of those locations.’
To Alderman Hans Krieger, PostNL’s arrival in Westzaan is very welcome: ‘Commercial space is in high demand at HoogTij. The company will create employment opportunities, which is an important criterion for the municipality in allocating commercial space. This new parcel sorting centre will create around 400 jobs - jobs that really are needed in this region and come as welcome news to Zaanstad.’
Marco van der Laan, Director of construction firm Aan de Stegge Twello: ‘Having previously realised other sorting centres for PostNL, we’re delighted to be able to collaborate on another attractive parcel sorting centre. The premises in Westzaan is the 14th that we’re building for PostNL. That demonstrates our mutual trust and effective collaboration.’
BREEAM is the sustainability quality mark for the construction of sustainable buildings with a minimal environmental impact. PostNL intends to obtain the BREEAM certificate 'Outstanding' for this parcel sorting centre. It will be the eighth PostNL parcel sorting centre with a BREAAM certificate. For this purpose, PostNL is investing in sustainable materials, the installation of around 900 solar panels and waste heat recovery systems. In addition, the premises will be free of gas. This makes these premises one of the most sustainable buildings.
This new PostNL location in Westzaan will be part of a network of 25 parcel sorting centres in the Netherlands and six locations in Belgium. In 2021, PostNL will open two new parcel locations in the Netherlands: this location in Westzaan and a special sorting centre for small parcels in Nieuwegein. In Belgium, a new high-tech sorting centre will be built in Willebroek, which will come into operation in 2021. These new locations will significantly expand the capacity for sorting and distributing parcels.