As a child, Ylva Veldhuis dreamed of working for the Red Cross, helping people in crisis zones. “I always imagined myself in crisis situations offering relief and making a difference for people in need,” she recalls. But as her career progressed, her focus shifted from immediate response to prevention and long-term solutions. Today, in her role at Partners for Water, she works on sustainable systems and methods that aim to prevent crises altogether. Nice to meet you Ylva!

From theory to practice: hydrology and asset management

Ylva’s passion for disaster prevention led her to study Earth Sciences, followed by a master’s degree in Earth, Surface & Water at Utrecht University, where she specialised in hydrology. “I found that water management and understanding systems came naturally to me,” she explains. Her internship at Rijkswaterstaat (the executive agency of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management) allowed her to bridge the gap between academic theory and practical application. There, she researched seepage along the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal. “I went out to speak with farmers about their experiences, which helped me connect theory to real-world challenges,” she says.

Learning from experience: risk management in South Limburg

Following her internship, Ylva took on a traineeship at Rijkswaterstaat. One of her first assignments involved risk management and water safety in South Limburg. It was during this period that the devastating floods in Valkenburg occurred. “It was heartbreaking to witness, but incredibly insightful. Everything I had learned about risk management came into play,” she reflects.

From crisis response to crisis prevention

In her final assignment at Rijkswaterstaat, Ylva was tasked with community building to tackle drinking water crises as part of the Departmental Coordination Centre for Crisis Management. This role paved the way for her next move to the Dutch Risk Reduction Team at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency. Here, she found a perfect blend of her childhood dream combined with her academic background in water management: working internationally, crisis coordination and responding to natural disasters.

International collaboration: learning from global perspectives

At Partners for Water, Ylva had the chance to focus on international collaboration and long-term solutions. She began by organising international events such as the Singapore International Water Week and the World Water Forum in Bali. “It’s incredibly inspiring to meet people with such diverse challenges and ideas, but all with the same goal: making the world more sustainable through water management. I loved creating a space at the Dutch Pavilion where people felt welcome and at home,” she shares.

Sustainable solutions: Nature-based Solutions and asset management

Ylva’s work now centres on a thematic approach to Nature-based Solutions (NBS) together with Matthijs Zijlmans. She and her colleague Tamar Meibergen are also working on the Build Neglect Repair Cycle, a programme designed to ensure the long-term maintenance of water infrastructure is planned from the start. “It’s not just about building something; it’s about making sure it’s maintained over the long term. Without proper maintenance, even the most impressive dykes or mangroves are only temporary fixes,” Ylva explains.

Collaboration and making an impact

One of the aspects Ylva values most at Partners for Water is the opportunity to work with equally passionate and more experienced colleagues. “Collaborating on both Nature-based Solutions and the Build Neglect Repair Cycle has given me so many new insights. I’m constantly learning and gaining a better understanding of how we can make a lasting impact,” she says.

The future: aiming for systemic change

In the coming years, Ylva hopes to contribute to systemic change, where long-term solutions become the standard. “I want us to take significant steps and open doors to discussions about different alternatives and measures. The key is to find what works best for the long term,” she explains. Ylva believes these efforts will lead to meaningful, structural shifts in the way we manage water resources. With her technical expertise, practical experience, and forward-thinking approach, Ylva Veldhuis is set to play a crucial role in the success of Partners for Water.