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The labor market campaign ‘Stay Dry—Choose Hydraulic Engineering!’ is continuing with new footage from the field. Following a successful first campaign phase, the Association of Hydraulic Engineers and the Hydraulic Engineering R&D Fund are continuing their efforts to inspire young people to pursue training and a career in hydraulic engineering.
The campaign was launched in early 2026 and introduces young people to the versatility of hydraulic engineering. Initial results show that the campaign is widely seen and appreciated. More than 14 million impressions were generated through social media platforms popular among young people. Tens of thousands of young people visited the campaign website kieswaterbouw.nl. Nearly 1,000 career assessments were completed there.
“The results show that the sector is able to reach young people with a message that matters,” says Edwin Brinksma of the Waterbouw R&D Fund. “The combination of water safety, sustainability, technology, adventure, and a secure, healthy financial future appeals to young people. That’s why we’re now building on that success with new content and new ways to introduce young people to hydraulic engineering.”
Thanks to the Industry A key factor in the campaign’s success is the involvement of member companies. Many companies actively supported the campaign by providing visual material, real-life stories, project information, and their participation in six new career videos. The new career videos are fully in line with the campaign’s style and offer a glimpse into the daily, important work of a hydraulic engineer.
“We are incredibly grateful to our members for their enthusiasm and commitment,” said Erwin Holterhues, Advisor on Employment Conditions & Social Affairs at the Association of Water Construction Contractors. “After our call for new material, we were flooded with wonderful images of projects, employees, and equipment. This allows us to show young people just how versatile, meaningful, and impressive work in the water construction industry really is.”
Investing in the Future In recent months, there have been an increasing number of reports about the poor and aging condition of the Netherlands’ infrastructure. The Netherlands faces an enormous challenge. Bridges, locks, and waterways—as well as flood defenses and other hydraulic engineering structures—will require maintenance, renewal, and sustainability improvements in the coming years. This will require not only major investments but also a new generation of professionals to keep the Netherlands safe, accessible, and dry.
The water engineering sector thus faces a major societal challenge in the areas of climate adaptation, water safety, sustainable infrastructure, and nature conservation.
With the next phase of the campaign, the organizers aim to help even more young people discover that hydraulic engineering is a future-proof sector where social impact, innovation, a good salary, and career opportunities all come together.
