Rijkswaterstaat is the executive agency of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, dedicated to promote safety, mobility and the quality of life in the Netherlands. Rijkswaterstaat manages and develops the main road network and waterway network plus the main water systems. We endeavour to create a sustainable living environment.
We work with others to ensure that the Netherlands is protected against flooding, that there is sufficient green space and an adequate supply of clean water, and that the citizens of the Netherlands are able to travel quickly and safely from A to B. Jointly promoting safety, mobility and the quality of life in the Netherlands is what Rijkswaterstaat stands for.
At Rijkswaterstaat, you get the chance to contribute to the finest and most prestigious infrastructure projects as a student or starter. Projects on which you will later proudly say: “I worked on that!” There are a lot of work opportunities for graduates within Rijkswaterstaat. You can find more information about these opportunities on our career site. Do you have a specific question? Don’t hesitate to contact us directly: campus@rws.nl. Learn more about us at https://www.rijkswaterstaat.nl/en.
Workshop description
Balancing transport infrastructure expansion and greening in densely-populated urban areas
Rijkswaterstaat is the executive agency of the Dutch ministry of Transport and Water Management and as such responsible for the operation and renewal of the main transport infrastructure networks in the Netherlands. This task of operating roads a.o. involves expanding highways to facilitate the still increasing mobility and prevent or solve traffic congestions and safety issues. However, most of these works take place in densely-populated urban areas where livability and climate adaptation require greening rather than concreting. In this, Rijkswaterstaat needs to balance between, on the one hand, intense engagement of stakeholders to gain support and come to integral solutions and, on the other hand, following a strict planning process as to realize projects within time and budget restrictions. But how to balance this national sectoral challenge with local societal challenges? The workshop elaborates on the case of the A9 highway expansion in the south of Amsterdam going right through the city of Amstelveen to discuss this balancing act in more depth.