RDM Rotterdam
The Sea
Laurens Hoogendijk used to work as a lifeguard on the beach, gazing at the enormous seagoing vessels in the distance. His fascination with the sea led him to Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences for a minor in offshore wind. Now, at the age of 22, he is fully involved in a company that’s helping to shape the energy transition.
“I know absolutely nothing”, Laurens says modestly. “The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know. Fortunately, I have colleagues who I can ask anything.” His journey began unconventionally. While his fellow students chose Spain, Laurens went to St. Petersburg. Later, he interned in Romania at a material machining company. “That experience made me more worldly wise”, he says. But something was missing: “I missed the sea in that whole story.”
A Minor with Major Impact
The minor in Energy Transition at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences brought change. Together with fellow student Pepijn Meuldijk, Laurens worked for six months on an innovative project: a solution to transfer foundations from one ship to another, tested in the Aqualab at the Innovation Dock. Jurgen Zijlmans, General Manager of Osbit, explains: “When we established ourselves at RDM, we immediately started collaborating with educational establishments, developing issues that students could work on. That’s how Laurens and Pepijn came to us. Impressed by their results, we hired them immediately.”
Special Project
Laurens was soon sent on his way. He travelled to Newcastle to make contacts, then to Poland to work on a special project: a tool to install anode cages and clean foundations.
“It’s like a car wash for wind turbine foundations”, Laurens explains. “The tool places an anode cage underwater to prevent rust, then comes back up and cleans the top part with brushes so that the tall turbine tower can be neatly placed on it.”
It was all very exciting: “At one point, a component broke, and we were at risk of not being able to continue working. Fortunately, someone quickly came over from England with the right tool. As a novice engineer, you suddenly find yourself in the middle of a crisis and see how important collaboration is. And you also realize that this is part of innovation; we’re building prototypes, it’s never been done before.”
What Does Osbit Do?
“We are in offshore wind”, says Jurgen. “We make things that don’t exist yet, on request. From gangways to complex things like installation tools that can also clean turbine foundations.”
“If it doesn’t exist and you can’t buy it off the shelf, then it’s something for us”, he continues. “We draw on our 15 years of experience, but everything we do is unique. It’s always about equipment for the installation of wind farms – tools to lift turbine components, to bury cables – basically everything that’s needed.”
After 15 years in Newcastle, the English company Osbit consciously chose to expand to Rotterdam, and after a few years in the centre, they moved to RDM. “Here, we literally breathe the industry. The maritime atmosphere, important companies, and a pool of talent around the corner. Historically, it also makes sense; RDM, like our location in Newcastle, is connected to the maritime background.”
Multiple Transitions
For Laurens, everything revolves around transitions: from student to professional, from fossil to sustainable. “As a student, I became increasingly aware of the need for the energy transition during lectures. It became clearer, also through what I read in the news: Shell decided not to fully commit to the energy transition. That shocked me because it’s about our future.”
He consciously chose Osbit: “Here, they really want to work towards a cleaner planet. Instead of working for the big fossil players, I can contribute to a sustainable future here.”
An Ocean of Opportunities
“There’s an ocean of things I can learn here”, Laurens says enthusiastically. “That’s what makes it fun. It keeps me curious and motivated to continue discovering and pushing my boundaries. It keeps me sharp!”
Laurens Hoogendijk is a young engineer who not only connects wind turbines with the sea but also education with innovation and talent with opportunities. Laurens’ story shows what collaboration between education and business can achieve. And all thanks to a fascination with the horizon, a hands-on minor, and a company that dares to invest in the next generation.
Photography: Mick de Witte
