Discover 150 years of DEME!

In 2026, DEME celebrates 150 years of marine and environmental engineering. From our early roots in 1876, we have grown from our origins in dredging and marine works into a leading, diversified group - shaped by expertise, innovation, resilience and a constant drive to push boundaries. 

Throughout this anniversary year, we’ll take you on a journey through our history, sharing stories and moments that show how challenges were approached, solutions were developed and ambitions kept moving forward. Across our channels and on this dedicated anniversary website, you can discover the people, projects and breakthroughs that made DEME what it is today. This website will be updated weekly with new stories. Throughout the year, we will use #DEME150 to share and connect these stories. 

As we reflect on 150 years, we continue to look ahead with the same spirit that defines us: We Care. We Dare. We Deliver.

1887

Enabling urban expansion with IJzeren Man

1887 - Enabling urban expansion
1887 - Enabling urban expansion

Between 1887 and 1915, works carried out in ’s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands contributed to the expansion of the city to the west. To execute the project, the temporary partnership “maatschap van Seters & van Haaren” was formed in 1887, pointing to an early collaborative approach with local partners.

Low-lying marshland near the railway station needed to be raised to make it suitable for construction. For this purpose, the partners commissioned a steam dredger, the IJzeren Man, which extracted material from Nicolaas van Haaren’s peat bogs in Vught. This material was transported by rail to the city, enabling the creation of a 60-hectare urban district.

This project illustrates how dredging techniques were already being applied beyond ports and waterways, supporting urban growth and spatial development. Combining expertise, working with partners, and shaping space where land and water meet has been part of DEME’s story from the very beginning, creating room for cities to grow and transform over time.

Disclaimer

With 150 years of history, there are countless moments to tell. In this anniversary year, we share a non-exhaustive selection of stories that illustrate how DEME became the company it is today. These stories are drawn from a variety of historical sources, including books by authors such as Dirk Podevijn and Mon Vanderosteyne, company publications and the input of colleagues across the organization. As this website looks back on 150 years of heritage, it features archival material from different eras. Safety standards and working practices have evolved significantly over time and should be understood in their historical context.