June was full of energy, movement, and momentum – with our teams taking part in trade missions, conferences, workshops, and on-the-ground project work across the globe. From Southeast Asia to South America and back home in the Netherlands, we’ve been actively advancing Nature-Based Solutions for a more resilient and sustainable future.
🇮🇩 Indonesia
As part of the Dutch trade mission led by NL Water Envoy @ Meike van Ginneken, EcoShape and NL2120 representatives Alex Hekman, Femke Tonneijck and Thomas Westhoff joined 34 Dutch water sector organizations in exploring opportunities for nature-based coastal protection in North Java. With President Prabowo Subianto’s plans for 700 km of coastal defense, we’re supporting efforts to ensure these protections are inclusive and grounded in natural processes – like sediment management and mangrove restoration – to avoid displacing vulnerable communities.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
EcoShape and NL2120 partners took part in a Netherlands–UK bilateral roundtable focused on growing nature finance, held at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the United Kingdom. The event was opened by Agricultural Counsellor Philip de Jong and brought together experts to explore how to scale up private investment in nature.
🇵🇪 Peru
At the AAPA LatAm Conference 2025, which was held in Lima 24-27 June, our EcoShape BwN III program director Erik van Eekelen presented work that we conducted on NBS in Ports, highlighting the guidance we developed with the World Bank. Next to that many meaningful conversations took place in Peru, where government officials discussed with on the critical role of Nature-Based Solutions in addressing climate impacts on coastal and river infrastructure as well as in Ports of the Future. It’s encouraging to see increasing regional interest in integrating ecosystems into resilient design.
🇸🇬 Singapore
Director of EcoShape Arjan van der Weck, together with the wider EcoShape-team in Singapore Matthijs Bos (Haskoning), Mark Hegnauer (Deltares), Zi Qian Yang (Delta Marine Consultants), Pranab Choudhury (Boskalis) and Jaïr Smits (Witteveen+Bos) attended the Singapore International Water Week. They continued dialogues with PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency to explore future collaboration on coastal adaptation – combining Singapore’s and EcoShape’s expertise in nature-based urban and delta solutions.
🇵🇭 The Philippines
In The Manila Times, EcoShape expert Petra Dankers shared insights on why Nature-Based Solutions are still often misunderstood. The article highlights the importance of shifting mindsets, updating regulations, and valuing long-term social and ecological benefits. Read the article.
🇳🇱 The Netherlands
And back home, with our partner the waterboard of Hunze&Aa’s, we’re excited to kick off a new pilot project: De Rijpdijk, where we’re putting innovative, nature-based design into practice right here in our own backyard.
From Indonesia to Peru to The Netherlands – it’s all connected. Every conversation, every workshop, and every project strengthens the global movement toward Building with Nature, not against it.
A big thank you to our dedicated teams, partners, and local collaborators who make all of this possible. Let’s keep building forward – together!
