Holland Compared

Water Sector
World leaders in hydraulic engineering, water treatment and
shipbuilding
• The Dutch are renowned for their integrated water management
and multi-disciplinary approach that balances social, economic,
environmental and engineering needs (‘Building with Nature’).
Dutch companies are involved in the sustainable development of
low-lying urban agglomerations such as Jakarta and Bangladesh,
and coastal development in areas such as Dubai, Vietnam and
Romania.
• 40% of the freely accessible market for water management is in
Dutch hands.
• The Dutch Delta Works are listed in the Guinness Book of Records
as the largest flood defence project in the world. With almost
16,500 kilometres of dykes and 300 structures, the project is one
of the most extensive engineering projects in the world. The
Oosterscheldedam is the largest single tidal barrier in the world,
at 9km in length.
• The Dutch invest heavily in innovation and R&D through publicprivate
partnerships. These include renowned institutes such as
Deltares, MARIN, Wetsus and KWR Watercycle Research Institute.
TNO and large Dutch private firms are also recognised for their
water R&D.
• In the field of water technology and maritime technology, the
Netherlands ranks 8th worldwide for global patents.
• The Dutch began using innovative waste water treatment
techniques in the 1970s. Some 99.9% of Dutch households have
access to clean, entirely chlorine-free drinking water. Additionally,
the level of recycling of industrial waste water is high, and this
recycled water is of such high quality that it can be used in the
food and beverage industries.
• The Dutch maritime cluster comprises 12 sub sectors and 12,000
companies, which employ 224,000 employees. The cluster has a
strong international focus: 60% of the seagoing ships produced in
the Netherlands are destined for export.
TOP SECTORS IN FOCUS 65