Zaanstad Opposes 380 kV Power Line Through Assendelft

Zaanstad Calls 380 kV Route Past Assendelft “Totally Undesirable”

The 380 kV grid expansion needed to connect new data centers, housing and businesses in northern North Holland is now formally contested by Zaanstad, which calls the proposed route along Assendelft and through Krommeniedijk “totally undesirable” and demands a full reconsideration of both the line and the substation site, De Orkaan reported. Without the expansion, the regional power grid is full: no new homes or companies can connect, and existing businesses cannot decarbonize their production, State Secretary for Climate and Green Growth Jo-Annes de Bat (CDA) wrote to the municipality.

Zaanstad filed a “very critical” formal objection (zienswijze) arguing the plan is poorly substantiated, insufficiently weighs the interests of residents and entrepreneurs, and fails to properly assess alternatives. The municipality says the route has an enormous impact on the living environment, affecting not only Assendelft and Krommeniedijk residents but all users of the area from across the region. Anyone can file an objection until December 3.

Grid Capacity vs. Local Impact: The Competing Claims

De Bat acknowledged the impact a substation can have on the living environment but stressed the expansion is necessary: the power grid in the north of North Holland is at capacity. The draft preferred decision for the 380 kV North Holland North grid expansion makes clear the new demand includes data centers, alongside housing and business growth.

Five route options and several substation locations were studied, but no feasible suitable location exists without some impact, the ministry said. Routes through the Beemster are considered unpermittable under nature and heritage legislation, while the Assendelft route affects the Stelling van Amsterdam — a UNESCO World Heritage site — though mitigating measures could limit that damage, according to the draft decision. NH Nieuws reported that Zaanstad argues the emphasis is on how quickly the line can be permitted and built, while the consequences for the region receive too little attention, adding that livability in Zaanstad is already under heavy pressure and that residents risk becoming the “actual wire victims” of the project.

What Changes for Businesses and Residents

The substation planned for the Assendelverpolder near Assendelft would cover roughly 17 hectares, in an area used for agriculture and recreation and partly designated as UNESCO World Heritage, NH Nieuws noted. For companies in the region, the stakes are connection capacity: without the 380 kV expansion, new firms cannot hook up to the grid and existing manufacturers cannot switch to sustainable production, De Bat wrote. The ministry has ruled out re-examining alternatives, saying it would only cost time with no expected positive outcome on feasibility, but said it will look into compensation options for affected residents.

Alderman Joins November Meeting to Oppose Plans

To reinforce Zaanstad’s opposition, Alderman Julie van ‘t Veer (CDA) attended a public walk-in meeting organized by the ministry and grid operator TenneT on November 5, 2026, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Cultuurplein (the former Reformed church), Dorpsstraat 364, in Assendelft. The formal objection period remains open to everyone until December 3.