Paul van Eijk
Professor for Sustainable Water in the Environment at Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences.
Open days
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Online Open Day
19 March
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Online Open Day
4 June
Professor for Sustainable Water in the Environment at Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences.
Online Open Day
19 March
Online Open Day
4 June
Online Open Day
19 March
Online Open Day
4 June
Professor for Sustainable Water in the Environment at Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences.
Water runs like a blue thread through the career of Professor Paul van Eijk. After studying Environmental Science at TU Delft, he worked at Environmental Research and Design Bureau BOOM and the Regional Environmental Office in Haarlem. One of the questions that arose during that time led to a part-time PhD research project for TU Delft: how can you create a sustainable water system, like in a new housing development, in an existing residential area?
In 2003, Paul completed his PhD, after which he held leadership positions in the provinces of Drenthe and South Holland. Naturally, his focus areas included water, spatial development, environment, soil, nature, climate, and energy. For both provinces, he established discovery labs to conduct co-creative and innovative research into successful and sustainable spatial development. Paul continues this work today in his role as Professor of Sustainable Water in the Environmental Planning Act and in his job at the Vallei and Veluwe Water Board.
“This combination of professorship and water board offers numerous (collaboration) opportunities for students and scientific practical research. For example, in the Environmental LAB of the university and in the area studios of the water board. Through research and education, we contribute to sustainable water management, a topic that the Environmental Planning Act has put back on the government agenda. Rightly so, because water is essential for a good living environment, and its sustainability is an important spatial challenge.”
Since 2024, Paul has also been part of the advisory group of the independent Evaluation Committee for the Environmental Planning Act as a professor.
The governments in our country are busy implementing the Environmental Planning Act until 2032. This is a significant operation, as it combines 26 laws. However, it is also a very relevant development that helps to sustainably develop and protect the quality of the living environment. The Applied Research Group for Sustainable Water in the Environmental Planning Act contributes to an essential component: the water transition, through training and research.