Beverwijk, Netherlands

Beverwijk: A Singular Gateway to the Atlantic

Beverwijk, a port city in North Holland, is home to a single submarine cable landing point: the Atlantic Crossing-1 (AC-1). This cable, operational since 1998, connects Beverwijk to three other landing points across the Atlantic - Brookhaven in the United States, Sylt in Germany, and Whitesands Bay in the United Kingdom. While Beverwijk may host just one cable, its role in global connectivity is far from insignificant.

The Atlantic Crossing-1: Linking Continents

The AC-1 cable spans an impressive 14,301 kilometers, making it one of the longest cables landing in the Netherlands. It serves as a direct link between Europe and North America, enabling data transfer and communication across the Atlantic. Beverwijk’s inclusion in this cable chain places it on the map of international connectivity, even though it is not the busiest landing point in the Netherlands. With only one cable, Beverwijk ranks modestly among the Netherlands' eight submarine cable landing points. Nearby peers like Eemshaven and Zandvoort each host three cables, while Domburg, Ijmuiden, and The Hague manage two cables apiece. Callantsoog, like Beverwijk, also hosts just one cable. Despite this, Beverwijk’s connection to AC-1 ensures it plays a role in the broader network that links the Netherlands to global hubs.

Strategic Location Meets Industrial Character

Beverwijk’s location is key to its connectivity. Situated just 20 kilometers northwest of Amsterdam, within the Randstad metropolitan area, it benefits from proximity to major economic and logistical centers. The city lies north of the North Sea Canal, which is crossed by railway and motorway tunnels connecting Beverwijk to Haarlem and beyond. Its industrial port character complements its role as a landing point, providing the infrastructure needed for data and commerce to flow seamlessly.

Latency Insights: Performance Matters

GeoCables’ unique latency measurements reveal that Beverwijk performs well in global connectivity. Across 25 monitoring checks from 10 source cities, the average round-trip latency to this landing point is 107 milliseconds, with the best observed latency at 52 milliseconds. These figures underscore the efficiency of the AC-1 cable in maintaining reliable communication across continents.

A Singular Connection, A Global Role

While Beverwijk may not rival larger landing points in cable count, its connection to the Atlantic Crossing-1 positions it as a key node in the transatlantic network. This single cable ensures Beverwijk remains plugged into global data flows, supporting both its local industry and its place in the Netherlands’ broader connectivity landscape. For a city known for its industrial port and strategic location, this singular gateway to the Atlantic is a fitting complement to its character.