Open Day Dutch building and infrastructure sector

Association of Dutch building and infrastructure companies chairman Maxime Verhagen sounds gong

Maxime Verhagen, Chairman of the Association of Dutch building and infrastructure companies, sounds the gong at the Amsterdam exchange ahead of the 11th ‘Dag van de Bouw’, on 4 June. Throughout The Netherlands everyone is welcome to visit some of the 160 construction sites which have opened their gates on this annual open day.

“This day is a kind of benchmark. How is our sector developing? What are we working on today?”, mr. Verhagen explains. “This past week I therefore embarked on an ‘innovation journey’ along various construction sites and companies. Often our sector is labeled as ‘not innovative’ or even ‘conservative’. Fortunately many projects tell a different story. I have witnessed many and wildly varying innovations in close up. And moreover, heard the accompanying stories, with narrators brimming with pleasure and profound satisfaction, rooted in the true cooperation between bidders, construction companies and the sites’ neighbours. Of course technical genius is part of it, but true innovation exceeds the mere engineering solutions.”

“Solutions for example of traffic congestion, or ingenuity employed on reinforcing our dikes, which is of course a classic Dutch challenge. Or the challenge of providing an efficient solution for the aging inhabitants of low-cost rental houses. They can now live their lives in upgraded, care-friendly sustainable homes. To put it this way: innovation in the construction sector is equivalent to solving a puzzle together, in a dynamic environment. This is how we invest in society. We’re facing major challenges in the near future, but we’re confident in meeting tomorrow’s demands of 18 million people in our country!”

The Euronext listed construction companies Heijmans, BAM and Boskalis highlight different construction projects during ‘Dag van de Bouw’. 

For more information: www.dagvandebouw.nl