The first major assignment for Nicolaas van Haaren and Hendrik Willem Ackermans in Belgium marked a defining moment in the entrepreneurs’ history. In the late 1880s, Belgium launched an ambitious defense program based on Lieutenant General Brialmont’s plan, including the construction of modern fortresses around Liège and Namur.

In July 1888, execution of the works was entrusted to French contractors, including Fougerolle. That same month, Hendrik Willem Ackermans traveled to Paris together with Nicolaas van Haaren and other Dutch contractors to sign a contract with Fougerolle for the supply of 1.2 million cubic meters of gravel for the Belgian army engineers. The project was innovative for its time: it not only provided essential building material for the forts, but also improved navigation by dredging gravel from the Meuse riverbed.

Initially, fourteen dredgers were deployed, with their number increasing as the project expanded. Gravel was extracted by bucket dredgers, loaded into freight wagons, and transported directly to the fortress construction sites.

The project was not without its challenges. Harsh winter weather and strong river currents tested the resolve of the team. The project’s significance was underscored by a visit from King Leopold II in October 1889, who expressed his admiration for the contractors’ expertise and dedication. With the completion of the Meuse gravel supply for the Belgian forts, a long tradition of landmark infrastructure works in Belgium began.