The petrochemical industry is an important economicactivity in the Netherlands, although not much oil has been found on Dutch soil (only some fields near Schoonebeek in the province of Drenthe, in Southern Holland, and in the North Sea). The reason for this is the huge supply and refining of crude oil (to gas, LPG [liquefied petroleum gas], kerosene, diesel, asphalt, and so on), particularly in the harbor area of Rotterdam (Pernis). Shell and Sabic (until 2002, DSM Petrochemicals) have become leading com panies in this field, but they are accompanied by many other enter prises, which produce machinery and develop new technologies. Be cause of the transport of hazardous materials and other risks, safety measures (supervised by Rotterdam Seaport Police) are very impor tant.
See also Energy.
Historical Dictionary of the Netherlands. EdwART. 2012.