X2 Antalya · 27 Apr – 1 May 2026

11 people.
200+ destinations.
One partner short —
yours.

The Freight Hero is a Hengelo SME forwarder with our own booking platform. 15-second quotes, 2-minute bookings, FENEX-member since Feb 2025. We’re at X2 to find the right partner-agent in your country.

↓ keep scrolling — the story takes 90 seconds

Where we are

Hengelo,
Netherlands.

Eleven people. Two-hundred-plus destinations. Our own booking platform — quote in 15 seconds, book in two minutes. FENEX-member since February 2025, which is the seal Dutch importers actually look at.

We're not the biggest. That's why you can actually reach Tristan.

Who we're looking for

We're hunting
hero agents.

We have someone in almost every country. That's the problem. We're at X2 to upgrade from someone to the right someone per lane.

The 7 markets below are where Mike + Tristan can close deals inside the 4-day window. But we want to meet you regardless of where you're from — 200+ destinations, 130+ countries at this conference, and exactly one of them is yours.

  • 🇮🇳India
  • 🇻🇳Vietnam
  • 🇹🇭Thailand
  • 🇧🇩Bangladesh
  • 🇰🇷Korea
  • 🇯🇵Japan
  • 🇦🇪UAE (Jebel Ali)

↓ scroll through the 7 priorities, then meet us at the open-call below.

Lane #1 · India

India.

Why this lane: IN→NL exports ~US$22.5B; Mundra >6M TEU annually; PLI scheme pulled Apple/Foxconn assembly in.

What we need from you: Tier-2 city FCA pickups (Tirupur, Coimbatore, Ludhiana) — empty repositioning costs and unreliable trucker networks add 4–7 days unless local agent has dedicated fleet.

Pitch baseline: Tirupur → Rotterdam LCL knitwear — pickup, AEO export clearance, AMS air option for late orders. Baseline: $75/m³ sea, $4.20/kg air, JNPT cut-off T-3.

Bar questionWhat's your in-house trucking radius from JNPT, and do you handle Tier-2 FCA pickups directly or sub it out?

Lane #2 · Vietnam

Vietnam.

Why this lane: VN→NL exports US$10.24B 2023. Hai Phong throughput +12.8% YoY to 7.1M TEU 2024. $36B FDI 2025 in electronics/footwear.

What we need from you: Vietnam eliminated de-minimis Feb 2025 + rolled out Smart Customs; HS misclassification on 85xx electronics now triggers inspections + delays.

Pitch baseline: Hai Phong → Rotterdam LCL — current market $65–85/m³, 28–32 days. Baseline ask: $55/m³, 25 days, weekly Maersk/MSC sailings, EVFTA Form EUR.1 prepped.

Bar questionHow fast do you turn around HS-code corrections from a NL importer when CBP-equivalent flags an 85xx line — same day or next?

Lane #3 · Thailand

Thailand.

Why this lane: Laem Chabang 9.46M TEU FY24 (+9.1% YoY). ASEAN logistics hub for auto parts + electronics into NL.

What we need from you: 33-day transit Laem Chabang → Rotterdam means inventory-cost sensitive; need agent with reliable T-5 cut-off and proper FOB handover.

Pitch baseline: Laem Chabang → Antwerp/Rotterdam FCL auto-parts, baseline $1,650/40HC, weekly MSC. LCL <15m³ ex-Bangkok consol.

Bar questionFOB Laem Chabang — do you handle origin-side demurrage if the line cuts off and we need to reroll?

Lane #4 · Bangladesh

Bangladesh.

Why this lane: BD→NL RMG exports +21.21% to US$2.08B in FY24-25. Knitwear +31.69%. NL is top-4 EU buyer.

What we need from you: Chittagong port congestion + monsoon ETA-slip (Jun–Sep); air-charter overflow into Dhaka → AMS at peak season (Sept–Nov), capacity constrained.

Pitch baseline: Chittagong → Rotterdam FCL 40HC GMG-quality cargo — baseline $1,800/40HC ex-monsoon, GSP+ docs ready. Air overflow Dhaka → AMS @ $3.80/kg consol.

Bar questionWhat's your Sept–Nov peak surcharge model — fixed GRI or floating per-week?

Lane #5 · Korea

Korea.

Why this lane: Strategic add per Voorzitter — Korea+Japan kept on the X2 priority list for relationship coverage even if X2-density is medium.

What we need from you: Mid-size electronics + auto-parts shippers need a NL partner who can handle express air-overflow when sea cut-offs slip.

Pitch baseline: Busan → Rotterdam FCL electronics, weekly HMM. ICN → AMS air consol for sample/tooling shipments at $3.60/kg.

Bar questionWhich NL receivers do you already handle, and what's blocking expansion into mid-cap shippers?

Lane #6 · Japan

Japan.

Why this lane: Strategic add per Voorzitter. Japan-NL bilateral trade ~€20B annually; high-value cargo lane.

What we need from you: Premium-grade machinery + automotive parts demand white-glove handling and customs-precision; TFH wants a partner who can match Japanese service standards.

Pitch baseline: NRT → AMS air-freight machinery components, $4.80/kg, T-2 cut-off. Yokohama → Rotterdam FCL roll-cage automotive.

Bar questionWhat's your typical volume into Benelux today, and what's your acceptance rate on premium-grade exclusive consignments?

Lane #7 · UAE

UAE (Jebel Ali).

Why this lane: JAFZA = bonded re-export node for Africa/CIS cargo TFH would otherwise miss; English-fluent SME forwarder density high.

What we need from you: KYC complexity in JAFZA bonded — customer-of-record rules vs. duty-free re-export require licensed in-zone agent or shipments stall.

Pitch baseline: Jebel Ali → Rotterdam LCL bonded re-export, baseline $48/m³, AEO-equivalent docs, JAFZA-licensed handler.

Bar questionAre you a JAFZA-licensed in-zone operator or do you sub-contract bonded handling?

Open call · all countries

Not on the
priority list?
Even better.

X2 brings 600+ delegates from 130+ countries to Antalya. Those 7 priority lanes above are where Mike + Tristan book meetings in advance. But when you walk past our table at the bar and you're from somewhere else — that's the conversation we actually need. Untapped lane, untapped relationship.

Any of these regions? We have clients shipping to / from them RIGHT NOW and are short on the local end. Come say hi.

  • Latin America

    • 🇧🇷 Brazil
    • 🇲🇽 Mexico
    • 🇨🇱 Chile
    • 🇵🇪 Peru
    • 🇨🇴 Colombia
    • 🇦🇷 Argentina
    • 🇪🇨 Ecuador
    • 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
  • Africa

    • 🇪🇬 Egypt
    • 🇳🇬 Nigeria
    • 🇰🇪 Kenya
    • 🇿🇦 South Africa
    • 🇲🇦 Morocco
    • 🇬🇭 Ghana
    • 🇹🇿 Tanzania
    • 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
  • Middle East (beyond UAE)

    • 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
    • 🇶🇦 Qatar
    • 🇴🇲 Oman
    • 🇯🇴 Jordan
    • 🇹🇷 Türkiye
    • 🇮🇱 Israel
    • 🇮🇶 Iraq
    • 🇱🇧 Lebanon
  • Rest of Asia

    • 🇵🇭 Philippines
    • 🇮🇩 Indonesia
    • 🇲🇾 Malaysia
    • 🇰🇭 Cambodia
    • 🇲🇲 Myanmar
    • 🇵🇰 Pakistan
    • 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
    • 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
  • North America & Pacific

    • 🇺🇸 USA
    • 🇨🇦 Canada
    • 🇦🇺 Australia
    • 🇳🇿 New Zealand
    • 🇵🇬 Papua NG
    • 🇫🇯 Fiji
  • Europe's edge

    • 🇬🇧 UK
    • 🇵🇱 Poland
    • 🇷🇴 Romania
    • 🇷🇸 Serbia
    • 🇺🇦 Ukraine
    • 🇬🇷 Greece
    • 🇵🇹 Portugal
    • 🇫🇮 Finland

Not on any list above? Even better. Whitespace-on-a-map is a room Mike wants in. Walk up, say "Hengelo" — he'll buy the next round.

The line on the coaster

Move Freight
Like Heroes

Pause at sea

Hai Phong → Rotterdam.
25 days at sea.

Use code HEROES26 to play our 2-minute Ports Challenge. Your score lands on the X2 leaderboard.
Top three after 1 May win.

▶ Play the Ports ChallengeView live X2 leaderboard →

X2 leaderboard · live

Top three slots — open.

Play with code HEROES26. Top three at 23:59 on 1 May win the prize: a free TFH-sponsored shipment sample + dinner on us at Antalya.

  1. Be the firstwaiting…
  2. Empty seatwaiting…
  3. Empty seatwaiting…

What you get when we partner up

Eight people
in Hengelo who quietly
make it work.

Once you and Mike or Tristan agree to test a lane, here's who actually handles the shipments, the questions, and the dashboard you'll log into. Tukker-direct: no call-center, no ticket-hell.

  • Martijn

    Martijn

    Manager Operations

    Tight logistics is the invisible foundation of your international success.

    show original

    Een strakke logistieke operatie is het onzichtbare fundament van uw internationale succes.

  • David

    David

    Freight Forwarder

    Global logistics demands perfect coordination. I make sure the puzzle always fits.

    show original

    Wereldwijde logistiek vraagt om perfecte regie. Ik zorg dat de puzzel altijd past.

  • Dominique

    Dominique

    Freight Forwarder

    The big picture matters, but it's the details that make a flawless supply chain.

    show original

    Het grote plaatje telt, maar het zijn de details die zorgen voor een vlekkeloze supply chain.

  • Tim

    Tim

    Freight Forwarder

    The market doesn't wait. I bring speed and flexibility to every shipment.

    show original

    De markt wacht op niemand. Ik zorg voor snelheid en flexibiliteit in elke zending.

  • Andy

    Andy

    Freight Forwarder

    Customs rules complex? Not for me. I steer your goods past every border, effortlessly.

    show original

    Douaneregels complex? Niet voor mij. Ik loods uw goederen moeiteloos langs elke grens.

  • Nihal

    Nihal

    Customer Service

    Best service? Telling you the answer before you've asked the question.

    show original

    De beste service? U informeren nog vòòrdat u de vraag hoeft te stellen.

  • Burcu

    Burcu

    Customer Service

    Every question deserves a clear answer. I'm only satisfied when you can move forward.

    show original

    Elke vraag verdient een helder antwoord. Ik ben pas tevreden als u weer verder kunt.

  • Nikita

    Nikita

    IT Specialist

    Making complex logistics simple and transparent through smart code — that's my mission.

    show original

    Complexe logistiek simpel en transparant maken met slimme code: dat is mijn missie.

What partners say

Four reviews. None of them paid.

Lifted verbatim from the reviews carousel on thefreighthero.com. Aggregate score on the public widget reads 4.4.

  • Simple, fast and very customer-friendly. Customer service like you rarely see anymore. You don't have a customer in me, you have an ambassador!
    Tycho RibbinkTransport · Jan 2019
  • I am very satisfied with The Freight Hero and especially with Mike. We transport many containers with this party and it has always been satisfactory.
    Dax van den BergE-commerce · Feb 2025
  • Freight Hero thanks you for the fast service during transportation from Asia. Competent advice on routing so that we could get the goods to our customers on time.
    VikteriFashion · Sep 2024
  • Freight Hero helped our company a lot in optimising our logistics processes. No challenge is too big, and they always think proactively.
    Sofian SpieringsWholesale (sustainable bags) · Jan 2025
4.4Aggregate score on the public reviews widget at thefreighthero.com.

What we built

We’re a forwarder
with our own platform.

  • 0sec

    to a sea or air freight quote on our own platform.

  • 0min

    from a quote you like to a confirmed booking.

  • 0+destinations

    via direct relationships with carriers and airports.

  • 0all-in price

    no surprise surcharges. What you quote is what your client pays.

Mike Westera
Tristan van de Worp
Pien

How to connect

Find Mike, Tristan,
or Pien at the bar.

Move Freight Like Heroes

Mike and Tristan are at every X2 cocktail. Pien jumps in if they’re already mid-meeting. Wherever you’re from — priority lane or whitespace on our map — we want the conversation. WhatsApp is fastest.

Where to find us

Trendy Lara Hotel lobby bar, daily from 18:00. Look for the table with the orange TFH coasters. If we’re mid-meeting, leave your card with the bartender — we’ll follow up before breakfast.

X2 Antalya · Trendy Lara Hotel · 27 Apr – 1 May 2026 · Coaster code: HEROES26