Hydraulic engineering something for you?

Good infrastructure solutions within hydraulic engineering are crucial for preventing or limiting floods such as those that occurred in early July in Limburg, among other places. Family company Van den Herik is a hydraulic engineer in heart and soul and together with its independent sister companies they are building a future that is livable, accessible and safe. 

"The bundled knowledge and solution-oriented work makes us strong in multidisciplinary projects," says Lourens Francke, Head of Design at Van den Herik. We speak with him about working in hydraulic engineering and, in particular, at Van den Herik.

Working with water is our passion

"I was born in Zeeland and now live there again. Living together and the struggle with the water are inseparable, that has always been clear to me. Combine that with my interest in engineering and that's how it all started," Francke continued. "I now work as a design manager at Van den Herik where I can combine my technical knowledge with the practical touch. Because making a good design is one thing, but the added value is precisely in the feasibility of that design." Working with water is a real passion at Van den Herik. This hydraulic contractor and dredger recognized that -in addition to excelling in execution- it was also important to be able to deliver the design and decided to set up a design department.

Knowledge transfer and project dynamics

"As a kind of cooperating foreman, I am pulling that cart and we are building a design department. The team consists of designers for hydraulic engineering, who can calculate and design (including stone calculations), design leaders who can manage the design process in terms of content based on specialist knowledge, and modelers: the draftsmen who can visualize the design product. "It is precisely the combination between transferring knowledge and the project dynamics of practice that makes my position as a design leader with a contractor so interesting," Francke believes. 

Keep developing yourself

Van den Herik is always looking for creative and innovative solutions. "Technological innovations and ambition of our people is of great importance in this," Francke continued. "Then it is perfect when you can pair young dogs with ambition and knowledge of the latest technological developments with experienced forces with years of experience." Francke points out that, within Van den Herik's flat organization, there are all kinds of ways to develop yourself. "You really get a certain freedom in that here, and that comes with the accompanying responsibility. But that is growth. Of the individual person, but also of the company. There are so many different disciplines within a marine construction contractor in which you can develop and shape the positions that are there, so give it a go and take that opportunity." Francke concludes, "So do you have a passion for hydraulic engineering? Then working at Van den Herik might really be for you!"