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Building underwater requires skill, experience and the right technology. For Aquatech, this is everyday business. As a specialist in civil underwater construction, it operates throughout the Netherlands and abroad, including the realization of infrastructure projects, inspection, salvage and offshore. Every project has its own peculiarities and challenges.
Aquatech from Joure is active in inspections, renovations, maintenance and new construction of civil projects. That immediately shows how broad and specialized the company is. Because they do different types of work, they work under two names: Aquatech Diving (work in inland waters) and Aquatech Offshore (work at sea and in offshore waters). Within Aquatech Diving, headed by Steven Spanhaak, many projects have been completed and new ones started in the past year. Spanhaak: “Our assignments are often technically complex and require a lot of precision. That suits us perfectly. We are strong in non-standard constructions and always find a practical solution.”
The company is involved in many special projects. One of these is the new construction of the research reactor in Petten. “Here a building pit was made with diaphragm walls measuring 50 by 50 meters and over 20 meters deep. Especially because of the depth, this was certainly a technically challenging job.” Another civil construction work that stands out is the construction of the new pumping station at Zoutkamp in Groningen. This was quite a challenge because the construction site is right next to the monumental Hunsingo lock, near the old sea dike and the Hunsingo canal. “In front of the pumping station a building pit was made with sheet piling 110 meters long, almost 16 meters wide and about 8 meters deep. Then we poured underwater concrete,” Spanhaak explains. In 2025, Aquatech's divers were also fully engaged in the refurbishment of the ferry ports of the Wadden Islands. Here, among other things, they installed the cathodic protection of the steel sheet pile walls in the harbors.
A huge undertaking because it involves seven ports. “These projects are extra nice because they are taking place in our own region. As a Friesian company, we are proud to be able to participate in this.”
Aquatech's expertise is also appreciated internationally. In Germany, the company is involved in the newly built Weser Tunnel in Bremen, part of the A281 freeway. Here Aquatech is providing the construction pits and pouring underwater concrete. And just across the border near Enschede, in the port of Spelle-Venhaus, the team is working on repairing sheet piling.
To perform this work safely and efficiently, Aquatech has modern equipment. For example, there are several diving units equipped with the latest technology, suitable for working with Nitrox as well. It also has its own mobile work and inspection boats, equipped with a complete diving system and underwater cameras.
Whether it's a complex project abroad or a job close to home, Aquatech continues to work with the same passion for quality and craftsmanship. “Every year new challenges come our way,” says Spanhaak in conclusion. “And we gladly take them with both hands.”
