People you get to know
A circle of peers across the water sector. Honest conversations about what worked, what didn’t, and what we would do differently next time.
A Dutch water network
Good on our own. Complete together.
Independent expertise · Integrated water solutions
We are a group of independent Dutch water professionals — hydrologists, planners, engineers and advisors — who like working together on international water challenges.
- Independent professionals
- Freelancers and small firms
- Informal and practical
Why DWMI
The idea is simple.
Working on your own has a lot going for it. The downside is that the bigger, more interesting assignments often ask for a whole team. DWMI is where we find each other — informally, and around real work when it comes along.
Opportunities, shared
Members bring in leads, questions and requests. Whoever brings something in stays in the lead — collaboration grows from there.
Teams that fit the task
When an assignment asks for more than one discipline, we team up by choice. Clear roles, fair agreements, no fuss.
The work
Water, space and people, in one design.
These are the kinds of projects our members work on — in the Netherlands and abroad. Different scales, one way of thinking: work with the system, not against it.
Making room for water in streets, squares and parks.
Giving the river space to rise safely — and nature room to return.
Building with sand, dunes and natural dynamics.
Integrated expertise
Water expertise connected to place, people and delivery.
DWMI is deliberately broader than a single technical discipline. Members work across these fields — on their own, and together when it fits.
Water systems & flood risk
Hydrology, hydraulics, flood risk, water security and resilience.
Spatial planning & urban development
Water-sensitive design, land use, infrastructure and urban integration.
Climate adaptation & nature-based solutions
Robust, multifunctional strategies that work with natural systems.
Data, modelling & digital tools
GIS, digital twins, hydro-informatics, decision support and AI.
Governance & institutional strengthening
Policy, stakeholder processes, organisational design and financing.
Implementation & capacity building
Training, project management, asset management and operational support.
The Dutch coast
A professional community
Useful online. Valuable in person.
Day to day, the community lives in a simple shared online space with a few focused channels. And every now and then we simply meet.
The online community
A friendly, low-key space where members find each other.
- Opportunities and requests in one place
- Questions and knowledge across disciplines
- Short updates on who is working on what
Off screen
Now and then we meet in person — like Blue Drinks: an informal drink with a short story from international practice.
Sharing good practice
We like to show strong examples of integrated water management, and give members a stage for their own work. Follow DWMI on LinkedIn.
A light setup
Built for participation, not overhead.
We keep things light. A modest annual contribution of €100 per member covers the shared basics — no targets, no obligations.
What members gain
Opportunities, project partners, knowledge exchange and a credible collective identity.
What DWMI is not
Not a consultancy or employment agency. Members remain independent and collaborate by choice.
How we work together
Transparency, confidentiality where needed, clear role agreements and fair collaboration.
Board
Small board. Clear purpose.
The board safeguards DWMI’s mission, professional quality and collaborative character while keeping the organisation light and practical.
RS
Rob Steijn
Board member
International team lead and consultant in coastal resilience, flood and climate risk management, with a long track record across the Dutch and international water sector.
BA
Bas Agerbeek
Board member
Water governance, water-resilient urban planning and hydrology — connecting policy and practice in the Netherlands and internationally.
LO
Lukas Oosterbaan
Board member
Hydrologist and technical specialist in urban water and climate stress testing, with broad international project experience.
Dutch water knowledge travels well — especially when we bring it together.
Get in touch
Contact DWMI
Curious about the network, or working on something we could think along with? We would like to hear from you.
Independent specialists. Integrated solutions.
Based in the Netherlands, working internationally.