Posted on July 9, 2026
Asbestos buried under paths and dykes since the 1970s at Blaasveldbroek nature reserve in Willebroek kept resurfacing through tree and shrub growth – even after an earlier clean-up in the ’90s. Commissioned by OVAM and ANB, our colleagues at Planet Redevelopment and Aertssen Group got back to work. The new remediation works have now been successfully completed, safely and sustainably containing and encapsulating the asbestos.
Beyond remediation, the area has been transformed into a valuable reedland as part of the European Blue Deal, curbing unwanted reforestation, supporting rare species, and boosting water quality and biodiversity.
The project was also awarded under the CO₂ Performance Ladder, with both Aertssen and Jan De Nul committing to reducing emissions at project level.
