Platform on civil engineering, underground infrastructure, energy, construction equipment & construction machinery
From Texel to the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier
In recent months, the Muiderspoor bridge between Diemen and Weesp has been in the spotlight. Commissioned by ProRail, the striking railroad bridge was scaffolded for a major conservation job. NL Steigers devised an ingenious platform of 200 meters in length, so that the restoration could be carried out without hindering train traffic. It shows how specialized and inventive the company is: custom solutions are devised each time to carry out complex work safely and efficiently. Throughout the Netherlands, from Texel to the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier. Director Serdar Ort takes us to a number of notable projects.
Renewing the preservation on the arch structure of the Muiderspoor Bridge required an ingenious concept. “During the Easter weekend of 2025, we had 104 hours available during an out-of-service period to build a platform in the bridge 200 meters long and 13.5 meters wide, just above the overhead wires,” Ort explains. “
This platform acted as a floor in the arch bridge and made it possible to carry out the conservation work safely, without endangering train traffic.” The wooden floor, equipped with steel railings, was developed and built entirely in-house by NL Steigers. “The material was lifted from one side and carefully ‘walked out,’ resting on the cross bracing just above the overhead line. The floor will remain in place for a total of just under a year, as another decommissioning is not scheduled until 2026, when we can safely dismantle the platform.”
The Muiderspoorbrug is not NL Steiger's only major project in the past year. The company has been involved in maintenance work on the Botlek Bridge for years. “Here we periodically erect scaffolding to enable conservation and maintenance of the structure. We are also a regular partner of maintenance teams at other bridges and locks,” says Ort. “For example, we recently worked on a lock in Amsterdam, commissioned by SPIE. There, scaffolding and stair towers were installed to make the spare door mechanism accessible. And at the Lith Lock, part of the weir complex in the Maas, we also provided scaffolding so that maintenance work on the chains could be carried out safely.”
At the Prinses Irenesluis in Wijk bij Duurstede, another challenging job was completed by NL Steigers earlier this year: scaffolding was built at the top of the lock for the removal of asbestos sheeting. “Because there was no room for large-scale hoisting equipment, all the material had to be brought up piece by piece with a winch, a logistical feat at a height of 40 meters,” according to Ort. Smart work was also done in Zwolle, at the Spolders Lock. “Here we constructed suspended jetties from the quay, so that shipping traffic could continue unhindered during the renovation work. An example of how inventiveness and customization contribute to minimal disruption.”
In addition to locks and railroad bridges, NL Steiger is also involved in other major infrastructure works. Ort: “For example, Brabotech is providing the necessary concrete repairs to the Tholen Bridge. To make the pillars accessible, we installed the scaffolding. Where others opted for large-scale constructions, we managed to offer a more efficient and safer alternative with stair towers and carefully placed railings and edge boards.”
Another project where NL Steigers has been active over the past year is the renovation of the Hubertus Tunnel in The Hague, part of the Noordelijke Randweg. “This tunnel has been closed for major maintenance since July 27, 2025 until the end of April 2026 at the latest,” says Ort. “On behalf of Strukton and other partners, we installed stair towers and scaffolding here, including around the pillars and in the service building where aerial platforms could not reach. In addition, a large tent was built to allow for waterproofing work.” The project illustrates how widely applicable NL Steigers' expertise is, from railroad bridge to highway tunnel.
But the list of projects is much longer. On Texel and in Den Helder, for example, scaffolding was built around ferry port lifting mechanisms. Four houses in which the mechanisms are located were conserved; three of these have now been completed, the fourth will follow shortly after bad weather caused a delay. Work is also underway on the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier. Scaffolding has been built at several gauging stations to enable conservation work, essential maintenance on one of our country's most important flood defenses.
What links all these projects together, according to Ort, is the approach. “We work with a relatively small, close-knit team of about 80 employees. This is precisely why we can act quickly: it doesn't take 20 links to get permission or approval.” And in addition, the company also excels in creativity. Again and again, smart solutions are devised that make the work safer, faster or more efficient. Everything is done with its own equipment, which is constantly being expanded and modified. Whether it's a specially designed wooden floor for a railroad bridge, or a suspended jetty from a quay, the best solution for the situation is sought each time.
With projects scattered throughout the Netherlands and ever-increasing demand for renovation and maintenance of bridges, locks and tunnels, Ort says 2026 promises to be an extremely busy year. “The requests are already pouring in,” he says. That's a sign that the company's expertise and inventiveness are increasingly widely recognized and appreciated. Whether in Weesp, The Hague, Texel or the Oosterschelde: the common thread remains the same. Safety, speed and smart customized solutions form the basis. “Scaffolding construction is much more is than just placing a temporary structure. We make the most complex infrastructure in the Netherlands accessible.”
