Nienke Groenewegen, director of Van den Biggelaar Grond- en waterbouw

The infrastructure sector is still too much seen as a man's world. Nothing could be further from the truth. More and more women are finding jobs and a place in the world of civil engineering. And we are happy to introduce them to you in detail. In each edition of GWW-Bouwmat, we let a woman from the sector talk about her job and what makes it so great. In this edition, we give the floor to Nienke Groenewegen, director of Van den Biggelaar Grond- en waterbouw.

Nienke began her professional journey at Delft University of Technology. She started with the bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, but soon discovered that her interests were broader within the technical spectrum. Opting for a master's in Civil Engineering turned out to be a logical step: a solid combination of design, construction and realizing tangible solutions to complex societal challenges.

After graduating, she took her first career steps at Van Hattum and Blankevoort, part of VolkerWessels. “I ended up working there for nine years in all kinds of different positions, both at the regional company and at headquarters, and of course on the various projects,” she says. “So this was mainly in concrete construction. Three years ago I made the switch to earthworks and hydraulic engineering.” Via, via, she came into contact with Van den Biggelaar, where she is now director of the contractor company of the same name within the Biggelaar Group. What began as a solo responsibility, she now fulfills together with a second director: a duo that suits the company's growth, dynamics and ambition. 

Working as a woman in a male-dominated industry brings two faces, she says. “Sometimes you stand out positively and doors are opened faster, but sometimes you have to prove yourself extra,” she says. The trick, she says, is in remaining authentic, using your qualities and not being afraid of the direct communication culture. “And fair is fair: that very culture is what I value enormously. The construction industry is a world in which no-nonsense mentality, solution-orientedness and ‘bland’ humor go hand in hand, which I myself may be the hardest part of.”

What makes the industry so special to her is the combination of technology, creativity and craftsmanship. “It's fascinating what we can devise, calculate and build together,” she says. Her ambition remains both modest and powerful at the same time. “Learning every day, growing and getting better at what I do.”