With the arrival of a second multifunctional business building, the Zeeland village of Sas van Gent is receiving a new economic boost, twelve years after the renowned glass factory at the same location closed its doors. Tomorrow, international real estate developer Panattoni will give the starting signal for the next phase of construction of the park in North Sea Port, carried out by contractor Willy Naessens Nederland.
With this expansion, Panattoni Park Sas van Gent will soon offer approximately 56,000 m² of business space, ideally located along the Ghent–Terneuzen Canal. The park will consist of two buildings measuring 34,000 m² and 22,000 m² respectively. Both buildings are fully electric and meet the highest sustainability standards. Delivery will take place in phases between mid-2026 and early 2027. The park is located in the North Sea Port port area and offers the possibility of constructing a private quay along the canal with a direct connection to the North Sea.
Benelux hub
“This makes Panattoni Park Sas van Gent an ideal Benelux hub with direct access for sea-going and inland vessels. Thanks to the new sea lock, this canal-side location provides access to all of Europe and the rest of the world. Ideal for companies wishing to connect to international goods flows. In addition to these important waterways, there are also excellent rail and motorway connections. Together, we are turning Zeeland into a thriving and growing region,” says Peter Geertse, Commercial Manager of North Sea Port.
What makes the project special is its use of existing industrial land. The renowned Sas van Gent glass factory previously stood here, a major employer in the region that closed in 2014.
New life for unused industrial land
Jeroen Gerritsen, Managing Director of Panattoni Belgium and the Netherlands:
“We must handle available space with care. Redeveloping derelict industrial sites is complex and costly, but extremely valuable. We give contaminated and unused industrial land a new lease on life, restore soil quality, and make use of existing infrastructure.”
Energy security
At a time of scarce grid capacity and long waiting lists for connections, Panattoni has succeeded in securing a contract for 3.5 megawatts of capacity for the entire park. “A relative rarity in the Netherlands these days,” Gerritsen emphasizes.
“The roofs will be fitted with solar panels, with the option to expand and increase output. In addition to the contracted 3.5 megawatts, this could generate an additional 7 megawatts of capacity. This also makes the park attractive for manufacturing companies that require energy for production. Moreover, the option to feed electricity back into the grid has been secured. The entire complex is gas-free and developed in accordance with the stringent sustainability requirements of BREEAM-NL Excellent. Companies can scale up here without encountering the bottlenecks they face elsewhere. The business complexes at Panattoni Park Sas van Gent are available for lease jointly or separately. Several discussions with interested tenants are already underway.”
Strong labor market
In large cities, distribution centers often struggle to find staff. Gerritsen explains:
“Within a 30-minute radius of the park, nearly half a million people live, with diverse educational backgrounds, offering relatively strong labor potential for Panattoni Park Sas van Gent. Due to the high degree of automation or assembly, well-trained technical personnel are required. In this way, we contribute to strengthening employment in the region and retaining highly educated professionals.”
Kick-off by alderman and former glass factory workers
The symbolic groundbreaking of the project will be carried out by Alderman Frank van Hulle of the Municipality of Terneuzen, assisted by Peter Geertse of North Sea Port and two former glass factory employees, Benny Hemelsoet and Jan Snijder. Together with many former colleagues, they keep alive the memories of the renowned Glas Sas, which supplied glass for many prominent buildings.
“The canal is a common thread in the history of Sas van Gent. After its opening in 1827, this important connection became a hotspot for heavy industry, such as the former glass factory here and the sugar factory. Now sustainable and modern companies are arriving, finding access to the rest of the world from this location. It represents a new impulse for our region. All the more reason to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Ghent–Terneuzen Canal next year, coinciding with the completion of this magnificent park,” says Alderman Van Hulle.
