About Me
Curious by nature and driven by purpose, I’ve spent my career exploring the dynamic landscapes that shape our world—from winding rivers and shifting estuaries to coastal systems constantly reworked by natural forces and human hands. I'm Dr. Wout van Dijk: geomorphologist, physical geographer, advisor, runner, and community builder.
My academic roots lie in understanding the physical processes behind river meandering, groundwater dynamics, and estuarine morphodynamics—insights I’ve gained through years of research, fieldwork, and innovative experiments. Today, I work as an advisor at Rijkswaterstaat Zee en Delta, where I bring this knowledge to practice in projects across the North Sea region, focused on sustainable soil and water management.
Beyond research and policy, I’m passionate about movement in another form: running. As a marathoner who has completed the Six Star World Marathon Majors—with a personal best under 3 hours—and an avid trail runner, I find the same inspiration in nature’s terrain as I do in its science. I also channel this energy into my community, serving as an Event Director and Event Ambassador for parkrun Netherlands, helping to foster a love for running and inclusivity in public spaces.
Whether I’m analyzing sediment transport, developing strategies for marine spatial planning, or running through forest trails at dawn, I remain fascinated by systems in motion—both natural and human-made.
Professional Background
I currently work as an advisor for Rijkswaterstaat Zee en Delta, where I specialize in soil and water management in the North Sea region. My work includes:
Overseeing sand extraction for coastal defense and infrastructure.
Contributing to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (Descriptor 7: Hydrographical changes).
Advising on Marine Spatial Planning.
Analyzing morphodynamics in complex estuarine systems like the Western Scheldt.
Previously, I worked as a consultant at Arcadis Netherlands, where I contributed to:
Offshore wind farm development.
Environmental studies of side-channels in the Rhine.
Silt plume data analysis in both the Middle East and the Netherlands.
UN-Habitat projects on plastic pollution in rivers in the Philippines.
Academic Background and Research
I spent over a decade in academic research at Utrecht University and Durham University as a PhD candidate and postdoctoral researcher. My projects include:
River Meandering (PhD): Creating the first dynamically meandering river in a laboratory setting and examining sediment-floodplain interactions.
Groundwater Depletion in NW India: Linking groundwater trends with geomorphic and stratigraphic variability in the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
Estuary Morphodynamics: Investigating how natural events (e.g., shoal collapses) and human interventions (e.g., dredging) impact estuarine networks.
As part of Prof. Dr. MG Kleinhans’s Vici project, I worked on:
Parameterizing shoal margin collapses.
Modeling sediment spread post-collapse using Delft3D.
Understanding salt marsh and estuarine channel dynamics.
My research has been published in open-access journals such as the Journal of Geophysical Research and Journal of Hydrology.
Areas of Expertise
Fluvial geomorphology
Sediment transport and morphodynamics
Physical and numerical modeling (e.g., Delft3D)
Groundwater–surface water interactions
Marine spatial planning
Environmental consulting (coastal & riverine systems)
