Protecting soil and banks naturally

Protecting nature with nature, it sounds too good to be true, but it is daily business for Van Aalsburg BV. The sixty-year-old family business of six brothers and eight cousins has as much as 50,000 m² to handcrafted willow zinc pieces delivered and assembled, which protect soil and banks from erosion by water. 

Whereas Van Aalsburg, as a nursery and brushwood business, was previously only a supplier to hydraulic engineering companies, the family business has now been supplying turnkey finished products for many years. "With many companies, the knowledge of making natural zinc pieces, corbels and shoring has faded away over the years," Dick van Aalsburg knows. "A shame. Especially since there is increasing interest in making 'nature with nature,' prompted by government laws and regulations. In that context, we have developed a number of unique products that, in terms of CO₂-foot pressure will be very beneficial. Willows store CO in the growing process.₂ up. By then applying them underwater as islands or sinkholes, it contributes to the climate transition."

Tying mats from a pontoon

Van Aalsburg notices a marked increase in demand for natural structures for soil and bank protection. "We have also been supplying and knotting zinc pieces for the Alliance for a few years now. The zinc pieces are constructed from cradles, bundles of willow twisted together, which we fully prepare in our 5-acre storage and production facility in Hellouw. The cradles are processed, twisted and wrapped with plastic, but increasingly with biodegradable rope, and then pressed into specific lengths to tie the zinc pieces on site. At the Markermeer dikes, the cradles are mostly knotted into mats from a pontoon. We sink the mats accurately to the bottom and banks using a sinker beam on winches and GPS. This is then used to place the stepping stones. We tie cribs with or without geotextile. In this case
did choose geotextiles, but we can also tie knots with jute or coir these days to create an all-natural
product to come."

On the Markermeer dikes, Van Aalsburg has built a total of more than 50,000 m² to zinc pieces delivered to the most vulnerable areas. "We are convinced that the demand for all-natural materials will only increase in the future," Van Aalsburg expects. "We are also making every effort to make our 'machinery' more sustainable. For example, we already run on HVO fuel for 100%, drive electric wherever possible and have put the first electric boats into service. We are also experimenting with hydrogen and wind energy. In terms of our business operations, we are thus also taking our responsibility for the next generations, placing great value on the sustainable employability of our employees. We are also a training company and employ several Wajongers and pensioners."