Platform on civil engineering, underground infrastructure, energy, construction equipment & construction machinery
A career in the construction and infrastructure sector means working on projects that transform the landscape and shape cities. But just as important is the environment in which you do that: your colleagues, the company culture, and the opportunities for personal growth. At BESIX, these elements come together. The company combines international clout with a strikingly accessible, almost family-like work atmosphere. We spoke with two employees at completely different stages of their careers: site supervisor Stan Atsma, who has just started, and project director Dieter Behaeghel, who has been with the company for 25 years. Their stories provide a good picture of what working at BESIX entails.
Stan is 23 years old and has been working as a site supervisor since January. Shortly before that, he completed his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at Delft University of Technology. Instead of continuing his studies, he made a conscious decision to gain practical experience. “I was approached by a recruiter on LinkedIn and subsequently spoke with several companies,” he says. “At BESIX, it just felt right right away.” His decision to join BESIX stemmed from his ambition to work on large, technically challenging projects. “I was looking for projects where you really learn a lot. I also had interviews at a company that does smaller regional projects, but large infrastructure projects like the A10 appealed to me more.”
Stan is now working on the De Nieuwe Meer Interchange project, part of the A10. There, he’s part of the TriAX construction consortium, alongside other major contractors. It’s been a tough start, especially without any prior internship experience. “It was really a leap of faith,” he admits. “But you get good guidance here. You make mistakes in the beginning; that’s just part of the process. They handle it normally, and you get clear explanations. That helps a lot.” His role is growing rapidly as a result. “I’m taking on more and more responsibility. Right now, I’m working on a flyover that’s about 300 meters long. I arrange for materials, coordinate with the work planning team, supervise the field crew, and inspect the work that’s been done.”
What appeals to Stan most is the dynamic nature of his work. “No two days are the same. You never know exactly what your day will look like in advance. That’s what makes it fun, even if it can be stressful at times. You have to think on your feet and come up with solutions.” At the same time, the role offers a lot of freedom. “You can largely organize your day yourself. You have your responsibilities, but how you fulfill them is up to you. That makes the work independent and challenging.” An important aspect for Stan is the immediate result of his work. “Here, we build new sections of a bridge every few weeks. You literally see it take shape. When you drive over it later, you know: we built this. That’s truly rewarding.”
His decision not to pursue a master’s degree right away still feels like the right one. “During my studies, I realized that research wasn’t really my thing. I’m learning much faster in a practical setting now. My goal is to move into work planning, and this role is helping me take that step in the future.” The work atmosphere also plays a big role in his positive experience. “The atmosphere in the site office is informal. You can easily pop into each other’s offices without any fuss. At the same time, everyone works hard. You’re on the phone all day and have to handle a lot of arrangements. You have to be able to handle that, but that’s exactly what makes the work fun.”
Dieter has been with BESIX for 25 years and is now project director for the Krammersluizen, one of the most complex renovation projects in the Netherlands. He started his career as a work planner. “From there, I’ve moved on to various roles,” he says. “That’s typical of BESIX: if you want to, you can really advance here.” His decision to join the company was clear at the time. “BESIX was known for large and complex projects, including international ones. That appealed to me. Here, you work on projects that really matter.”
Dieter still sees that complexity every day in his current work. “The Krammersluizen project is technically challenging. In the end, we were the only company that saw the project through to completion. That says something about our mindset.” According to Dieter, entrepreneurship is a key core value at BESIX. “Even when a partner dropped out of our collaboration, we said: we’re moving forward. We look for solutions and take responsibility. That’s what defines us.”
What also makes BESIX special is the breadth of the organization. “We work on civil engineering projects, buildings, and waterworks. Think of iconic buildings that define the skyline, but also complex infrastructure and water projects.” Yet, according to him, the distinction lies not only in the projects, but also in the culture. “We’re a large international group, but in the Netherlands we operate with short lines of communication and a flat structure. It feels personal and accessible.” That also comes with a certain mindset. “Work hard, play hard. We work intensively, but there’s also room for relaxation. Friday afternoon drinks and shared moments are important. That’s part of our culture.”
The combination of challenging projects and a strong culture ensures that BESIX continues to grow and is therefore always looking for new talent. “Our order book has grown significantly in recent years,” Dieter explains. “That means we want to expand structurally.” That growth translates into opportunities in various roles. “We’re looking for young talent with a passion for engineering for construction, work planning, and project management, but also for people in support roles such as safety, contract management, finance, and project control or environmental management.” In addition, we’re investing in engineering capacity within the Netherlands. “We are further expanding our design department. This will allow us to take an even more integrated approach to projects.”
What stands out is that BESIX doesn’t just look at open positions. “Even if there isn’t a specific position open right now, we’re open to talented people. With an eye toward the future, we’re always looking ahead.” So, if you’d like to make a difference, BESIX offers an environment where you can build both projects and yourself.”
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BESIX Netherlands: Your construction partner at the forefront of innovation and collaboration BESIX Netherlands is the premier multidisciplinary construction partner with a proven track record in innovative and industry-leading projects. We combine boldness, expertise, and collaboration to create solutions that go beyond construction. Our integrated approach enables us to tackle even the most complex challenges […]
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