Platform on concrete and steel in construction
Proper concrete maintenance is not a cost, but a strategic choice. By targeted inspection, repair and preservation, the focus shifts from demolition and replacement to preservation and life extension. This yields gains in terms of safety, availability and CO₂ reduction and requires professionalism, clear agreements and a common language in the chain.
With the official establishment of the association BetonOnderhoudsPlatform (BOP), November 4, 2025 marked a symbolic moment for the Dutch concrete maintenance sector. During the first members‘ day, with the motto ’The value of maintenance," it became clear how the new platform intends to develop into a visible, authoritative player in the infrastructure and building chain.
What began in 2017 as a joint pavilion at trade fairs grew into a substantive platform in 2022 and has now evolved into an association with clear ambitions. Within the BOP, the advisor of VABOR, producers in the VLB, the certified concrete repair companies of Vakgroep Betonreparatie Bouwend Nederland, the experts of Cathodic Protection Knowledge Center and the companies for the Training of Concrete Repair Specialists pull together. Their message: only with professional concrete maintenance is a circular economy possible!
The platform explicitly positions concrete as “the backbone of infrastructure and buildings.” Maintenance and life extension are thus not a cost item, but a strategic investment: maintenance extends the lifespan, increases safety and reliability and prevents replacement new construction with a large carbon footprint. As such, the BOP touches on current themes such as sustainability, housing challenges and responsible management of public funds.
Although the platform is not a standards institute, it is strongly committed to quality and professionalization. The members' day discussed how unambiguous working methods, clear division of roles between client, consultant and contractor and clear maintenance goals can contribute to reducing failure costs. Much damage is caused by unclear specifications, inadequate inspections or intervening too late in the case of incipient damage.
By sharing knowledge and gathering practical experience, the BOP aims to achieve more predictable performance of maintenance systems. This is not only about materials, but also about inspection methodology, preparation, execution and management. The association sees it as its task to bring parties around the table, exchange experiences and thus raise the bar higher step by step.
Communication forms a second pillar. Under the umbrella story ‘The Value of Maintenance,’ BOP aims to show clients, policymakers and society that preservation is often smarter than demolition. This is done through a campaign around “Preservation rather than demolition,” the knowledge series Studio Beton, a Northern Concrete Repair afternoon and a white paper with practical cases, LCC analyses, CO₂ effects and policy advice.
The association opts for a simple, consistent tone, with ambassadors from the field and young professionals. By always repeating the same core message, “maintenance as a natural part of good management,” concrete maintenance should become recognizable beyond its own sector.
Finally, they zoomed in on the labor market shortage. Tom van Eck (Bouwend Nederland) showed that although the inflow into construction and infrastructure training is growing, retaining people is at least as challenging. Employees stay mainly for collegiality, development opportunities and visible projects; they drop out in case of high physical load, lack of guidance and distant management. For concrete maintenance, this means: investing in training, on-site supervision and attractive employment is directly investing in quality and sustainability of our concrete supply.
With the members' day, the Concrete Maintenance Platform has firmly positioned itself: as a technical substantive compass, as a communication platform and as a booster of craftsmanship. Through events such as the Concrete Event, Studio Beton and the Noordelijke BetonReparatieMiddag on March 12, 2026 at the Makersfabriek in Zwolle, BOP will continue to build on that momentum.
