Van Oord-Hakkers-Beens wins Twente canals deal

Rijkswaterstaat, the executive agency of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, has awarded the final phase of the enlargement of the Twente canals to a consortium of Van Oord – Hakkers – Beens.

The contract was signed this morning. Also, the work will start in the spring of 2021 and will last until the end of December 2022.

By enlarging the waterway, the ports of Almelo, Hengelo and Enschede will be more easily accessible. Also, larger vessels will be able to sail through more safely and smoothly.

This will boost the regional economy and make water transport even more attractive.

Richard Brouwer, Director Netherlands at Van Oord, said: “We look forward to working with the consortium on the second phase of the enlargement of the Twente canals. We are pleased to use our ingenuity to contribute to Rijkswaterstaat’s ambition to reduce road freight traffic.”

The consortium will be responsible for enlarging the canal, replacing the current sheet piling over a length of 35 kilometers. Applying a self-sealing layer at the bottom of the canal will also be included.

The consortium will also create 13 kilometers of nature-friendly banks.