The Netherlands vulnerability to climate change and extreme weather events has led the country to embark on a National Flood Protection Programme, whereby it is investing approximately 1 billion euro a year in protecting its flood defences over the next 15 years.

DEME, through its subsidiary de Vries & van de Wiel, is involved in several major projects resulting from this nationwide plan, and one of these is the Gorinchem-Waardenburg (GoWa) dyke reinforcement plan. This is the Flood Protection Programme’s highest priority project following emergency dyke reinforcement work which had to take place in 1995 when the dyke was breached.