DHL Supply Chain, DHL Group’s specialised contract logistics division, has broken ground on a new European Battery Logistics Hub in Holtum, Limburg, further expanding its European capacities for battery and energy storage logistics. The new site will offer 17,000 square meters of specialised storage and service space for high‑voltage batteries and is closely connected to DHL Supply Chain’s existing Holtum automotive operation located next door. Together, the two facilities create an integrated campus offering end-to-end solutions for electric mobility and energy systems across Europe. The new hub is scheduled to go live in early 2027.
This development comes as global demand for electric vehicles and battery storage continues to accelerate, with China playing a leading role in battery production and innovation. Chinese battery manufacturers dominate globally, supplying around 70% of EV batteries and underpinning the international expansion of EV supply chains. Increasingly, Chinese players are also moving from exports to expanding its European production and infrastructure.
The batteries handled at the Holtum site are intended for use in electric vehicles as well as in the rapidly growing segment of battery energy storage systems (BESS), including home storage and solar energy applications. As demand for electric mobility and decentralised energy solutions accelerates across Europe, DHL Supply Chain is seeing strong interest from customers in the automotive, industrial and energy sectors seeking safe, scalable and compliant logistics solutions for battery supply chains. It is also seeing strong demand from companies expanding from Asia, particularly China, into European markets. With its strategic location, Holtum is positioned to develop into a central European gateway for EV and energy storage logistics, serving customers across the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and neighbouring markets.
“The transformation of mobility and energy systems is a key driver of change in global supply chains,” says Rainer Haag, CEO of DHL Supply Chain Europe. “By expanding our battery logistics capabilities in Holtum and closely linking them with our existing automotive expertise on site, we are creating a scalable one‑stop‑shop solution for the EV sector globally, including supporting customers connecting Asia and Europe. This investment directly supports DHL Group Strategy 2030, where New Energy is a decisive growth driver for our business across Europe.”
The new battery logistics facility is designed to support complex and highly regulated battery supply chains and will enable a broad range of value‑added services at one location. These include compliant storage of battery units, diagnostics and testing, charging and conditioning, refurbishment, reverse logistics, and preparation for recycling, helping companies meet European regulatory requirements and sustainability standards. By combining logistics and technical services, the Holtum campus enables customers to manage the full battery lifecycle efficiently while supporting circular supply chain models and more sustainable use of resources.
“For the Netherlands and the region around Holtum, this development reinforces the site’s strategic importance as a logistics and new energy hub,” says John Scherders, CEO of DHL Supply Chain Benelux. “By connecting the new battery operation with our existing automotive and spare parts site right next door, we are creating a centre of excellence that allows us to offer seamless logistics and technical services for electric mobility and energy storage customers across Europe and globally.”
The Holtum campus benefits from excellent connectivity to European transport corridors, with direct access to major motorways linking the Benelux and Germany, as well as proximity to a nearby container and barge terminal on the Juliana Canal. This waterborne connection further enhances the site’s ability to support efficient and resilient supply chains, offering customers additional options for sustainable European distribution.
The project forms part of DHL Group Strategy 2030, which focuses on supporting customers in growth sectors such as electric mobility, renewable energy and circular supply chains. With New Energy identified as a key driver of future growth, DHL Supply Chain continues to invest in specialised infrastructure and services that enable customers to scale sustainably across Europe.
