The adventure began in 2008. At that time, the Dutch water sector realized that rejuvenation was necessary in order to bring about real change. The Dutch Water Partnership—created to promote exports, coordinate cooperation, and represent the Dutch water sector internationally with one voice—was asked to set up a human capital program to rejuvenate the sector.

Establishment of the National Water Traineeship

The partnership agreed and energetically shaped the sector initiative. The human capital program included training courses, information sessions at schools, supervision of profile assignments, and numerous other activities to put the water sector on the map. One of the most important components—and this is where we come in—was the establishment of the National Water Traineeship. In 2010, we welcomed our first enthusiastic trainees. The primary goal of the traineeship was to rejuvenate the water sector and increase the influx of new talent.

Soil and Rural Areas

In the field of soil management, there was also a need to focus more attention on this area of work and to better structure and coordinate policy areas. This led to a covenant between the national government, provinces, municipalities, and water boards, which subsequently established the Soil and Subsurface Implementation Program. Because there was also a call for rejuvenation in this field, we were asked to set up a trainee program for the soil sector as well. In 2018, the first soil trainees started in the National Soil Trainee Program.

In 2023, we were asked by the Directorate-General for Rural Transition to set up a traineeship for that sector as well. The first trainees in the National Rural Traineeship began their promising adventure in October 2024.