Mainports and gateways in Europe: a comparative contrast analysis of Dutch and Finnish cases

This paper addresses the design of an evaluation methodology for mainports and gateways as strategic nodal and multi-modal centres in an international transport network. After an exposition of the concepts of mainports and gateways, the attention will be focussed on the critical relevance of mainports and gateways for two distinct countries, viz. the Netherlands and Finland. The difference between the transport networks of these two countries -seen from a European perspective- will be highlighted. The Netherlands has two principal mainports, viz. Rotterdam harbour and Schiphol airport, while Finland has two gateways, viz. the Barents region and the Baltic region. Clearly, the transport-economic functions of these areas are different, depending on socio-economic, geographical and logistic differences between both countries. Therefore, a contrast analysis for a comparative strength-weakness investigation of these areas will be undertaken. This contrast analysis will be based on the Pentagon model encapsulating five critical (key) conditions for the attractiveness of these areas. The comparative contrast analysis will be based on a multicriteria analysis, in particular the so-called regime method. From the results of this analysis, policy guidelines on mainport and gateway strategies will be derived, in particular with a view on the European unification process as reflected inter alia in the Trans European Networks.