As gatekeeper to around 80% of Europe’s cargo by sea, the Port of Amsterdam is preparing to build a new, tide-independent sea lock to accommodate some of the world’s largest ships.

VIDEO: New lock for Port of Amsterdam - coalport

As one of the world's main logistic hubs, the Port of Amsterdam handles cargo transhipment of more than 95m tonnes each year, making it Western Europe's fourth-largest port.

With connections to all major European markets, the harbour presents facilities for handling, storing and transporting a variety of goods from cocoa beans to toys, as well as dry and liquid bulk cargo, scoring as the biggest petrol port globally.