Meppel has plans to expand the existing port. There is room for this, but on the territory of the municipality of Staphorst. The sights are set on Oevers S, a piece of wasteland that connects directly to the current industrial port of Meppel. It is uncertain whether the neighboring municipality of Staphorst also likes this.
If a port expansion is in order, then there is still an obstacle that must be overcome. The Meppel Nature Conservation Watch has said that it will “take action anyway”. The organization fears damage to nature, for example for the Natura2000 area Weerribben-Wieden.