De Afsluitdijk
De Afsluitdijk is a 32-kilometer Dutch national water barrier connecting North Holland and Friesland, operated by Rijkswaterstaat and Provincie Fryslân under a public infrastructure modernization program focused on flood protection, ecological restoration, and sustainable energy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersKornwerderzand, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What De Afsluitdijk does
De Afsluitdijk is a 32-kilometer water barrier connecting North Holland and Friesland in the Netherlands, originally completed in 1932 and operated as critical national flood-protection infrastructure by Rijkswaterstaat (under the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management) jointly with Provincie Fryslân. The "De Nieuwe Afsluitdijk" modernization program, established in 2011, is a public infrastructure initiative focused on reinforcing the dike for climate resilience, expanding water discharge capacity, restoring ecological connectivity, renewing the A7 motorway, and adding sustainable energy test infrastructure. The internal program office is small (11–50 staff) with Tjalling Dijkstra as Programmamanager, while construction delivery and 25-year maintenance are outsourced to the Levvel consortium (BAM, Van Oord, Rebel, Invesis) under public procurement.
Core deliverables are physical infrastructure assets: 70,000 specialized Levvel-blocs (each approximately 6,500 kg) reinforcing the Waddenzee-facing slope, new pumping stations and discharge sluices at Den Oever, the multi-kilometer Vismigratierivier (Fish Migration River), a renewed A7 motorway surface, and visitor and educational facilities including the Afsluitdijk Wadden Center and the Waddenbelevingspunt observation tower. Underlying technology is civil and environmental engineering rather than software or artificial intelligence. Notable collaborators include Studio Roosegaarde (art and light installations) and Wind Energy Solutions for sustainable energy pilots at Breezanddijk.
De Afsluitdijk has no commercial revenue model. It is publicly funded through Dutch national budgets, provincial contributions from Friesland and North-Holland (for example, €958,678 from Provincie Noord-Holland in October 2014), and EU programs including NextGenerationEU, LIFE, and TEN-T. The asset is freely accessible to road users, cyclists, pedestrians, and vessels via the Stevinsluis and Lorentz sluizen complexes. End users are diffuse: Dutch citizens for flood protection, road and waterway traffic, tourists, the shipping industry, and the regional economy of Friesland and North-Holland.
De Afsluitdijk firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- De Afsluitdijk
- Legal name
- De Nieuwe Afsluitdijk
- Website
- https://deafsluitdijk.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- De Afsluitdijk is a 32-kilometer Dutch national water barrier connecting North Holland and Friesland, operated by Rijkswaterstaat and Provincie Fryslân under a public infrastructure modernization program focused on flood protection, ecological restoration, and sustainable energy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
De Afsluitdijk industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Flood Protection and Water Management Infrastructure
- NAICS
- Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)
- SIC
- Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hydro BOP Civil & Water Conveyance (Dams, Spillways, Penstocks, Canals) (EUAMAFAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Urban Flood Resilience & Adaptation Planning (Climate, Nature-Based Solutions) (EUANAEAJ), Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE), Intake/Outfall & Raw Water Abstraction Works (River/Sea Intakes, Outfalls) (IMAFAGAI)
Keywords
Where De Afsluitdijk is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kornwerderzand
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
De Afsluitdijk business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
De Afsluitdijk product offering
Product offeringCore offering
De Afsluitdijk is a 32-kilometer Dutch flood-protection dam and water-management infrastructure connecting North Holland and Friesland. The ongoing De Nieuwe Afsluitdijk programme (run jointly by Rijkswaterstaat and Provincie Fryslân) strengthens the dike with 70,000 Levvel-blocs, expands water discharge via new pumping stations and spuisluizen, restores ecological connectivity through the Vismigratierivier (Fish Migration River), renews the A7 highway, and operates visitor centers, museums, and sustainable-energy test facilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Vismigratierivier: Fish Migration River - a kilometers-long winding river for fish, running through the Afsluitdijk to reconnect the Wadden Sea and IJsselmeer
- Levvel-blocs
- Afsluitdijk Wadden Center
- Blue Energy
Products and services
- Dike Reinforcement Programme (Dijkversterking Afsluitdijk)
Quantifiable outcome
- 70,000 concrete blocks placed for dike reinforcement
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use De Afsluitdijk
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
De Afsluitdijk technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
De Afsluitdijk partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Levvel (BAM, Van Oord, Rebel, Invesis)coreConstruction consortium responsible for major infrastructure projects including dike reinforcement, building new pumping stations, and lock systems. Levvel designed and placed 70,000 specialized concrete blocks for dike reinforcement. The consortium also maintains parts of the infrastructure for 25 years after completion.
- Natura 2000minorEuropean network of protected nature areas. The Afsluitdijk project coordinates with Natura 2000 requirements to protect biodiversity in the Waddenzee area.
- Studio RoosegaardeminorDutch design studio known for innovative public art and technological installations. Contributed to design exploration for the Afsluitdijk aesthetic improvements.
- Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap (OCW)minorDutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science supports educational initiatives related to the Afsluitdijk history and engineering.
- Water AllianceminorInnovation network connecting government, knowledge institutions, and businesses in water technology. Located at WaterCampus Leeuwarden, supporting international business development for water tech companies.
- Merk FryslânminorRegional marketing organization for Friesland province, promoting tourism, product development, and hospitality for the Wadden islands and surrounding areas.
- NBTC Holland MarketingminorNational tourism marketing organization responsible for branding and marketing the Netherlands domestically and internationally.
- Ontwikkelingsbedrijf Noord-Holland Noord (NHN)minorDevelopment agency for North-Holland North region, supporting business attraction and investment in the area.
- Kranendonk ExperienceminorExperience design company that creates educational and engaging visitor experiences around brands and themes.
- Beach Hotel de VigilanteminorBeach hotel located directly on the IJsselmeer, offering unique experiences for visitors to the Afsluitdijk area.
- GEAR ArchitectencombinatieminorCooperative of designers focused on multidisciplinary collaboration in architecture, urban planning, and spatial development.
- InterraminorAdvisory and engineering consultancy specializing in spatial development, civil engineering, and public space management.
- Adviesbureau Sijperda-HardyminorIndependent advisory consultancy providing fire safety, building regulations, acoustics, and technical installation services.
- Bureau Feddes/OlthofminorLandscape architecture firm led by Berdie Olthof and Yttje Feddes, creating spatial plans that express the landscape qualities of project locations.
- W/E AdviseursminorResearch and advisory firm helping government, municipalities, and property investors with building and area sustainability in energy, circularity, and health.
- ITBBminorFull-service technical service provider specializing in design, construction, and management of electrical, climate, and industrial systems.
- Dienst Landelijk Gebied (DLG)minorAgency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs contributing to spatial coherence and development in rural areas.
- NetVISwerkminorOrganization representing small-scale coastal and inland fishermen in Netherlands and Belgium, advocating for sustainable fishing conditions.
- Waddenzee WerelderfgoedminorUNESCO World Heritage Site management organization for the Waddenzee, adjacent to the Afsluitdijk.
- Koninklijke WoudenbergcoreConstruction company (since 1799) awarded the contract for restoration and expansion of the Vlietermonument. Specializes in heritage restoration and sustainable renovation.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
De Afsluitdijk competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Saint Petersburg Flood Prevention Facility Complex: 25 km storm surge barrier protecting Saint Petersburg from Baltic Sea flooding. Comparable scale, comparable age (Soviet-era construction), comparable modernization imperatives, and comparable role as critical national infrastructure for a major coastal city.
- MOSE Venice: Mobile flood barrier system protecting Venice and the Venetian Lagoon from Adriatic storm surges. Highly comparable as a national-heritage flood defense infrastructure project with similar climate adaptation mandate, EU co-financing exposure, and ecological sensitivity considerations.
- Thames Barrier: UK flood defense barrier on the River Thames operated by the Environment Agency. Comparable function (protecting London from storm surges), comparable scale of public investment, and comparable climate adaptation tail risk — the closest non-Dutch functional peer to the Afsluitdijk.
- Eider Barrage (Eidersperrwerk): Storm surge barrier on Germany's North Sea coast at the mouth of the Eider river. Comparable geography (Wadden Sea/North Sea), comparable function (coastal flood protection with lock infrastructure), and comparable integration with EU Natura 2000 ecological considerations.
- New Orleans Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS): Post-Katrina network of levees, floodwalls, gates, and pump stations managed by US Army Corps of Engineers. Comparable mix of public ownership, large-scale federal-state funding, flood risk reduction mandate, and post-construction modernization program.
Direct peers
- Haringvlietdam: Dam in South Holland closing off the Haringvliet, with sluices for water discharge and the recent ' Kier' decision allowing partial tidal restoration for fish migration. Direct functional analogue for the Afsluitdijk's combined flood protection, water management, and ecological restoration role.
- Maeslantkering: Movable flood barrier in the Nieuwe Waterweg near Rotterdam, part of the Delta Works. Operated by Rijkswaterstaat with similar public mandate for storm surge defense of densely populated low-lying areas; shares risk profile, regulatory framework, and stakeholder ecosystem with De Afsluitdijk.
- Oosterscheldekering (Eastern Scheldt Storm Surge Barrier): Part of the same Dutch Delta Works program, the Oosterscheldekering is a 9 km storm surge barrier in Zeeland with comparable flood-protection function, comparable public ownership (Rijkswaterstaat), and overlapping engineering and ecological considerations (Natura 2000, fish passage). Most structurally and institutionally comparable project in the Netherlands.
Broad incumbents
- BAM (Royal BAM Group): Major Dutch construction and engineering firm and member of the Levvel consortium delivering the Afsluitdijk modernization. Comparable infrastructure delivery capability and as incumbent in Dutch water engineering market, provides a credible alternative-partner benchmark for project execution.
- Van Oord: Dutch marine contractor and Levvel consortium member, with extensive global track record in dredging, land reclamation, and coastal/water infrastructure. Comparable technical capability on dike reinforcement, hydraulic works, and ecological marine construction.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
De Afsluitdijk social profiles
Digital presenceDe Afsluitdijk financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
De Afsluitdijk leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
De Afsluitdijk subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
De Afsluitdijk funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
De Afsluitdijk M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about De Afsluitdijk
What does De Afsluitdijk do?
De Afsluitdijk is a 32-kilometer Dutch flood-protection dam and water-management infrastructure connecting North Holland and Friesland. The ongoing De Nieuwe Afsluitdijk programme (run jointly by Rijkswaterstaat and Provincie Fryslân) strengthens the dike with 70,000 Levvel-blocs, expands water discharge via new pumping stations and spuisluizen, restores ecological connectivity through the Vismigratierivier (Fish Migration River), renews the A7 highway, and operates visitor centers, museums, and sustainable-energy test facilities.
Is De Afsluitdijk a public or private company?
De Afsluitdijk is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was De Afsluitdijk founded?
De Afsluitdijk was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is De Afsluitdijk based?
De Afsluitdijk is headquartered in Kornwerderzand, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
Who are De Afsluitdijk's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Saint Petersburg Flood Prevention Facility Complex, MOSE Venice, Thames Barrier, Eider Barrage (Eidersperrwerk) and New Orleans Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS). Direct peers are Haringvlietdam, Maeslantkering and Oosterscheldekering (Eastern Scheldt Storm Surge Barrier). Broad incumbents are BAM (Royal BAM Group) and Van Oord.
Does De Afsluitdijk have an API?
No public API is recorded for De Afsluitdijk.
What industry is De Afsluitdijk in?
De Afsluitdijk's product category is Flood Protection and Water Management Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAFAG, Hydro BOP Civil & Water Conveyance (Dams, Spillways, Penstocks, Canals), with a secondary code of EUANAEAJ, Urban Flood Resilience & Adaptation Planning (Climate, Nature-Based Solutions). Its NAICS code is 924110 and its SIC code is 1623.