Van Oord and KWS  have delivered the Hansweert dyke reinforcement project ahead of schedule and to a high standard of sustainability. The reinforced dyke now complies with the latest Dutch safety standard, which factors in more severe storms. The project contributes to the future-proofing of flood protection in the province of Zeeland.

The Scheldestromen water board had commissioned Van Oord and KWS to reinforce a total of 5.2 kilometres of dyke between the lock complex in Hansweert and the Kapellebank tidal flat. Work included increasing the crest height along some sections by up to 3 metres and widening the bank by some 15 metres. Because the dyke is wedged between the Western Scheldt and the village centre, the amount of space available for executing the project was limited, requiring a tailor-made approach. There were further restrictions owing to the dyke’s location in a Natura 2000 area.

The work, which began in late 2022, was completed a full year ahead of schedule. This achievement highlights the parties’ shared commitment to sustainable, efficient and performance-driven cooperation.

Sustainability and environmental management were paramount in all stages of the project, making it one of the first sustainable dyke reinforcement initiatives in the Netherlands. Overall, CO₂ emissions on site were reduced by approximately 1,350 tonnes, mainly by deploying electric and hybrid equipment (including electric cranes and an electric excavator). In addition, materials were transported by water wherever possible. The project team worked with the water board to draw up a soil quality map, so that the soil excavated during the project could be reused as efficiently as possible within the project boundaries. Taken together, these measures resulted in a significant reduction in emissions.

Richard Brouwer, Infra Operations Director, Van Oord: ‘The successful completion of this project demonstrates that dyke reinforcement, sustainability and a tight schedule can go hand in hand. By partnering with our client from the outset in choosing an innovative, low-emission approach, we not only contributed to flood protection in Zeeland, but also took valuable steps towards building a more sustainable infrastructure. I’m very proud of everyone who contributed to achieving this.’

Gert van Kralingen, Executive Director, Scheldestromen water board: ‘By reinforcing this dyke, we’re making sure that the people it protects will be able to live and work safely here in the future. We did this on time and on budget in cooperation with the local community and our partners. That’s something we’re very proud of.’ 

Jan Pols, Director of Hydraulic Engineering, KWS: ‘This project shows what you can achieve when you truly work together from day one. Under challenging circumstances, we have worked on a dike that is ready for the future, with an eye for safety, sustainability, and the environment. The fact that we can look back together today on a safe, future-proof, and largely emission-free dike makes me immensely proud.’

The groundwork for the Hansweert project was put in place in December 2019 when Van Oord and KWS established the Answest consortium. The consortium prepared and executed the project in cooperation with the Scheldestromen water board and Witteveen + Bos consulting engineers.  The completion of the dyke reinforcement project marks an important milestone on the road to protecting Zeeland against rising sea levels by 2050.