Platform on civil engineering, underground infrastructure, energy, construction equipment & construction machinery
The Netherlands is facing an enormous renovation and replacement task. Most of our roads, bridges, and locks were built in the 1960s and 1970s and are approaching the end of their technical lifespan. With more than 40,000 bridges, 137 locks, and thousands of kilometers of roads and waterways, our infrastructure is our country's greatest social asset. Intensive use, often many times heavier than originally anticipated, immediately demonstrates that our infrastructure is essential: for our accessibility and for the transport of goods, for example. In short, for the economy. All this makes maintenance in 2025/2026 more urgent than ever.
The big question is: how do we make our infrastructure future-proof? The answer starts with insight. Without detailed and independent insight into the current state of our engineering structures, there is a risk that defects will only come to light when it is already too late. Recent examples, such as the Merwede Bridge and the Nelson Mandela Bridge, show that surprises lead to costly emergency measures and disruptions in accessibility and safety.
A-Quin provides this crucial insight. “We are one of the few parties in the Netherlands that can provide a comprehensive overview of engineering structures: civil engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering,” says director Mans Damen. “This broad expertise makes it possible to assess not only the individual components, but also the interfaces between them. It is precisely this integrated approach that sets us apart and prevents important risks from being overlooked. Our strength also lies in our independence. We have no other interest than to provide clear and objective advice. In doing so, we help managers and contractors to set priorities: where can maintenance be safely postponed, and where is this absolutely not allowed?”
A-Quin is one of the parties affiliated with the national program for the maintenance of civil engineering structures (IAK) run by Rijkswaterstaat. The aim is to guarantee the quality, safety, and lifespan of approximately 5,700 civil engineering structures by means of risk-based inspections and maintenance advice. However, the company is also called in by the business community. A concrete example of this is A-Quin's contribution to the Krammersluizen locks. “Rijkswaterstaat had drawn up a risk dossier for this, but the contractor had doubts about whether it was complete,” says Olivier Dolk, mechanical engineering team leader and Krammersluizen project leader at A-Quin. “We were asked to conduct an independent assessment. Thanks to our inspections in all disciplines, including thermographic testing of electrical installations, risks were identified at an early stage. This ensured clear prioritization and prevented discussion and stagnation during implementation.”
In the coming decades, Dutch infrastructure will require substantial investment, but above all knowledge and insight. A-Quin sees it as its mission to contribute to a safe, reliable, and future-proof infrastructure through comprehensive inspections and independent advice. “Because the sooner risks are identified, the better we can work together to ensure that the Netherlands remains accessible,” concludes Damen.
