Oct 16, 2025
Van Oord Earns Hydraulic Engineering Awards for Its Offshore Wind Projects
Dutch offshore installation company Van Oord has received the esteemed Jan Agema Award 2025 for its work on the offshore wind projects Borssele III, IV, and V. The jury commended the project for its technical innovation, social significance, and future-oriented design, recognizing it as a strong response to the critical energy transition in the North Sea.
Established by the Dutch Association of Hydraulic Engineers in honor of Jan Agema, the Jan Agema Award promotes innovation in hydraulic engineering and is given every five years to the most innovative project of the previous period. For the first time, an offshore wind project has been nominated and chosen, marking a significant achievement in acknowledging sustainable energy solutions within the hydraulic engineering field.
Van Oord has now won the Jan Agema Award twice, having previously received it in 2015 for the Second Maasvlakte project. The Borssele wind energy area (1,400 MW), off the coast of Zeeland, consists of five sites. Borssele V includes several scalable and reusable innovations, such as the slip-joint technique for efficient, safe, and maintenance-free foundation installation in deep water. Oyster reefs have also been incorporated into the scour protection around the turbines to boost seabed biodiversity.
The jury stated, “This project encapsulates everything the sector represents: technical innovation, societal relevance, and future resilience. They view this wind farm as a significant reaction to a pressing societal issue: the shift to sustainable energy in the North Sea. The project also illustrates that this transition presents opportunities for technical advancements and global impact.”
Van Oord was instrumental as the Balance of Plant contractor, engaging early in both design and implementation. Through close collaboration with clients, research organizations, and industry partners, the project was successfully completed. Borssele exemplifies how trust and integrated supply chain cooperation can lead to sustainable innovation.
Jan Willem Elleswijk, Project Director at Van Oord, added, “Offshore wind is crucial for the future of sustainable energy. Strong collaboration and open communication among all parties are vital to achieving these projects. It’s also important to engage young people in these initiatives, as their insights and ideas are invaluable. After all, we are building their future.”
Additionally, the Afsluitdijk dyke reinforcement project, executed by construction consortium Levvel (Van Oord, BAM, Rebel, and Invesis) for Rijkswaterstaat, received second place.
Established by the Dutch Association of Hydraulic Engineers in honor of Jan Agema, the Jan Agema Award promotes innovation in hydraulic engineering and is given every five years to the most innovative project of the previous period. For the first time, an offshore wind project has been nominated and chosen, marking a significant achievement in acknowledging sustainable energy solutions within the hydraulic engineering field.
Van Oord has now won the Jan Agema Award twice, having previously received it in 2015 for the Second Maasvlakte project. The Borssele wind energy area (1,400 MW), off the coast of Zeeland, consists of five sites. Borssele V includes several scalable and reusable innovations, such as the slip-joint technique for efficient, safe, and maintenance-free foundation installation in deep water. Oyster reefs have also been incorporated into the scour protection around the turbines to boost seabed biodiversity.
The jury stated, “This project encapsulates everything the sector represents: technical innovation, societal relevance, and future resilience. They view this wind farm as a significant reaction to a pressing societal issue: the shift to sustainable energy in the North Sea. The project also illustrates that this transition presents opportunities for technical advancements and global impact.”
Van Oord was instrumental as the Balance of Plant contractor, engaging early in both design and implementation. Through close collaboration with clients, research organizations, and industry partners, the project was successfully completed. Borssele exemplifies how trust and integrated supply chain cooperation can lead to sustainable innovation.
Jan Willem Elleswijk, Project Director at Van Oord, added, “Offshore wind is crucial for the future of sustainable energy. Strong collaboration and open communication among all parties are vital to achieving these projects. It’s also important to engage young people in these initiatives, as their insights and ideas are invaluable. After all, we are building their future.”
Additionally, the Afsluitdijk dyke reinforcement project, executed by construction consortium Levvel (Van Oord, BAM, Rebel, and Invesis) for Rijkswaterstaat, received second place.