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In large-scale dike reinforcement projects, the distance between the extraction site and the work site has a major impact on the efficiency and sustainability of the project. Thanks to the strategic location of the clay quarry in Winssen, the construction company J. den Boer is able to deliver large quantities of clay quickly and with minimal transport movements. Combined with electric transport on the dike, the company is making a significant contribution to the sustainable execution of this extensive dike reinforcement project.
The collaboration with Dijkalliantie Neder-Betuwe began at an early stage. “As early as the bidding phase, we made agreements with the alliance regarding the use of electric equipment,” says Ton Kuijs, director of the construction company J. den Boer. “After the alliance was awarded the contract, an intensive preparation process followed that focused on logistics, material flows, and emissions reduction.”
An added benefit for the project is the strategic location of J. den Boer’s clay quarry in Winssen. “This site is less than an hour’s boat ride from the project area,” says Ton. “That means we can efficiently transport large quantities of clay.” J. den Boer has already extracted 2.3 million m³ of clay from this pit for other dike reinforcement projects, such as Tiel-Waardenburg and Gorinchem-Waardenburg. “A lot of clay has also been shipped to the Afsluitdijk, and we supply smaller projects and the ceramics industry from the pit. Our scope for the Neder-Betuwe Dike Reinforcement project primarily consists of supplying 250,000 metric tons of erosion class 1 clay—a slightly oilier clay intended for the protective top layer of the dike.”
In February 2026, J. den Boer began making the first clay deliveries to the project. The clay is delivered by ship, unloaded, and then transported on-site using electric dump trucks. The alliance has reserved two electric Volvo 8×4 dump trucks from J. den Boer specifically for this work. “We use them to transport the soil flows daily, along with the other electric trucks and tractors, completely emission-free across the site,” says Ton. “The vehicles are constantly traveling between the unloading dock and the work site. By charging them smartly overnight at the newly constructed charging station near Lingemeer, the trucks are immediately operational again the next morning.’
The scope of the project is even larger than that of the initial phase. “Ultimately, we’ll be using clay in various grades. In addition to erosion class 1 clay, other types of clay will also be used, depending on their function within the dike structure. For example, erosion class 3 is used for the inner core, and erosion class 2 is typically used for the outer layer on which grass sod grows,” Ton explains. J. den Boer can supply that as well. “Because our clay comes from a large-scale clay pit, we guarantee continuity in both supply and quality.”
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