From puzzle pieces to overall picture: the key to transition acceleration

The Netherlands is bursting at the seams. Housing, energy facilities, water storage and nature are competing for a place in scarce space. This calls for early collaboration and an integrated approach, says WSP Netherlands director Han van der Vleuten. 'The earlier you sit down with a client, the better you understand what the real puzzle is.'

The pressure on the Dutch living environment is like never before. Housing construction competes with nature restoration, grid managers struggle with full energy grids, water managers anticipate extreme weather and infrastructure requires urgent renovation. These are issues that touch, reinforce and sometimes block each other. In this complex context, WSP in the Netherlands is increasingly positioning itself as the strategic consultancy and engineering firm. Or - to remain in the words of managing director Han van der Vleuten - as a partner who is not called in only when the shovel goes into the ground, but already at the very first contours of an issue.

Engineers who think strategically

Van der Vleuten has led WSP in the Netherlands since 2024. His mission? To embed a holistic, forward-looking approach in a sector that has traditionally been primarily executive. 'If a consultancy and engineering firm is only asked to solve one piece of the puzzle at a later stage, it is actually already too late. The issues are too big, too intertwined and too urgent for that. Early involvement nowadays determines whether you can arrive at the right solutions at all.' This calls for engineers who think strategically, who do more than design and perform specialist studies. But according to Van der Vleuten, that means the definition of the profession has to be changed. He sees his role - and that of his organization - as a knowledge partner who understands the bigger picture and contributes fundamentally to solutions.