Learning Network on Environmental Management hosted by Sweco
On 18 November 2025, Sweco’s Urban Lab welcomed a successful networking event with the Learning Network on Environmental Management. We hosted around twenty environmental experts and communication professionals for an inspiring evening focused on the Bossuit-Kortrijk Canal (KBK) project, reflecting on environmental management in complex infrastructure projects.
Strengthening the field of environmental management
The Learning Network on Environmental Management was established in April 2024 at the initiative of Annik Dirkx. The network now counts thirty members, including De Werkvennootschap, Connect and Common Ground, and focuses on knowledge sharing between environmental experts from public authorities and consultancy firms. The goal? To strengthen the discipline by exchanging practical experiences and jointly reflecting on stakeholder management, communication and societal impact.
Bossuit-Kortrijk Canal: a complex project with broad impact
The Bossuit-Kortrijk Canal (KBK) project took centre stage: a strategic upgrade of an inland waterway connection between Flanders, Wallonia and Northern France. Sweco is managing this project on behalf of De Vlaamse Waterweg nv, with attention to infrastructure, process management and stakeholder participation. The canal will be adapted for class Va vessels (up to 3,000 tonnes), enabling a sustainable modal shift. At the same time, the project creates opportunities for spatial development, mobility and ecology in the region. Our approach – with co-creation, workshops and dialogue – illustrates how environmental management can act as a lever for support and quality. The journey so far has been full of lessons learned, and we wanted to share this fascinating story with the network.
Programme and contributions
The session offered a mix of content and interaction:
- Welcome by Rik Houthaeve (Process & Project Management)
- KBK story by Stien Van Rompuy (Team Manager Process Management)
- Interview on urban policy as a stakeholder, with Dries Baekelandt (City of Kortrijk), Rik Houthaeve and Stien Van Rompuy, moderated by journalist Bart Noels.
The publication Bossuit-Kortrijk Canal. Complex project seeks collaboration served as a guide for reflection. In it, Sweco experts share their experiences with the process, collaboration and challenges of the project.
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