The Dutch and Belgian dredging industry is of strategic importance to the economy, water safety, and energy transition in both countries. While the sector is globally renowned for its expertise in maritime civil engineering, it is now under significant pressure due to growing competition, particularly from China.
This is evident from the new report “Future Scenarios and Strategies for the Dredging Sector in the Netherlands and Belgium”, an initiative by trade association NMT-IRO and Erasmus University Rotterdam.
The dredging industry in the Netherlands and Belgium stands at a decisive moment. The right mix of innovation, collaboration, and talent can turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities.
Key insights from the report:
- Strategic ecosystem: The dredging sector is a crucial link in protecting low-lying areas, ensuring accessibility to the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, and constructing offshore wind farms.
- Essential for water safety: With one-third of the Netherlands and large parts of Flanders below sea level, a robust dredging sector is vital for coastal defence and maintaining inland waterways.
- Economic engine: The sector supports over 350,000 jobs annually through critical port and infrastructure projects.
- Increasing geopolitical pressure: State-backed competition from countries such as China, India, and the Middle East is rapidly gaining market share in global dredging markets.
‘The dredging sector is of strategic importance to the Netherlands and Belgium,’ says Jeroen de Graaf, Director of NMT-IRO. ‘It is about much more than economic impact; our sector plays a crucial role in determining how resilient and competitive we are internationally. If we do not invest together in innovation, talent, and a stronger maritime ecosystem, we will lose our advantage to players like China, who have already made significant strides in this area.’
Also read: EU MRV and ETS pose challenges for EU dredging fleet
Three future scenarios
The report explores three possible scenarios for the sector:
- Green scenario – European dredging companies remain leaders thanks to innovation and sustainability.
- Teal scenario – Innovation continues, but within more regional, protected markets.
- Brown scenario – Protectionism and resource scarcity dominate, leading to a loss of international competitiveness.
Also read: SWZ|Maritime’s March 2025 issue: Dredging special and the hybrid fleet
Collaborate on innovation
NMT-IRO calls on the government, industry, and knowledge institutions to collaborate on innovation, and smart investments in people and technology. By building a future-proof, sustainable, and resilient sector, the dredging industry will not only remain relevant, but will also continue to lead the way.
Picture by Baggerbedrijf De Boer/Dutch Dredging.
Also read: IHC launches electric mining cutter suction dredger
