Rijkswaterstaat Directorate North Sea

Rijkswaterstaat (part of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management) was identified as a key public authority in the spatial planning and permitting process for Offshore Windpark Egmond aan Zee (OWEZ), the Netherlands’ first offshore wind farm located 10–18 km off Egmond aan Zee. In this capacity, Rijkswaterstaat managed aspects of marine planning and ensured that the project’s permissions and conditions were aligned with applicable marine safety, environmental, and water-management regulatory frameworks. This role related to the project’s development and consenting phase, supporting the formal approval pathway required prior to and during construction. The permitting remit included oversight of compliance requirements that influence how offshore infrastructure is laid out and implemented in the Dutch North Sea, including constraints relevant to navigation, environmental management, and offshore works planning. The described involvement positions Rijkswaterstaat as a consenting and permitting stakeholder linked directly to OWEZ, providing governance and regulatory assurance enabling the project to proceed from planning into build and subsequent operation under Dutch offshore regulatory requirements.