From 2-4 October, the city of Delft in the Netherlands hosted the 92nd Autumn General Assembly of CEEC (The European Council of Construction Economists) , which was attended by 25 delegates from 15 countries, representing thousands of European and Canadian cost engineers. The event was hosted by Erik Schulte Fischedick, representing the Netherlands.
The central theme this time was water and the eternal struggle against it. In the Netherlands, where a large part of the country is below sea level, water is a major issue. Water is a constant threat, mainly from the sea and from flooding from the Rhine and Meuse rivers. Dams, sluices, coastal defences, storm gates, reservoirs and pumps form a complex system that can only be truly understood and appreciated at close quarters.
At the meeting, participants were treated to a series of exciting presentations and discussions on the theme of “The Price of Water”, which explored the most pressing challenges facing the modern built environment.
As part of the programme, participants visited the Maeslantkering, the world’s largest movable dam. This monumental structure, located near Rotterdam at the mouth of the Nieuwe Waterweg, was built as part of the Dutch Delta system, which aims to protect the mainland from sea flooding. Its two huge automated gates are open by default, ensuring unhindered shipping traffic in the port of Rotterdam. However, they automatically close in the event of a storm, protecting Rotterdam from sea flooding. It is impressive how the Netherlands combines engineering and innovation to protect everyday life!
We are particularly pleased that the CEEC representatives have also voted confidence in our company’s founding owner, György Spányi, who will remain the president of the organisation for another two years. We are proud to have such a strong international professional presence.