History

IHC Merwede has been at the forefront of dredging since the mid-16th Century. At that time, a large part of The Netherlands was submerged and the first steps were taken to control the water by the people who had moved from the flooded areas. They knew how to handle the problems caused by the water and mud, and had practical experience of dealing with water currents. They created polders – low-lying tracts of land enclosed by dikes – and laid the foundations for dredging as it is known today.

At the end of the 19th Century, industrialisation was the catalyst for a new era of dredging and shipbuilding. The first steam bucket dredgers and hopper dredgers were developed for the New Waterway (1872) and the Barrier Dam (1927-32) – prime examples of the innovation and engineering expertise at that time. The scale of these projects propelled The Netherlands to the top of the international shipbuilding and dredging industries.
During the Second World War, a number of shipyards decided to combine forces and concentrate primarily on dredging equipment. The companies retained their independence, but the partnership was so successful that it resulted in the founding of the Industriële Handels Combinatie (IHC) Holland NV in 1965.

As a result of the global recession in the 1970s, IHC Holland was restructured with the offshore activities moving under the banner of IHC Caland, while the shipbuilding remained under the IHC Holland flag.
In 1987, IHC Caland regained control of IHC Holland and six years later acquired De Merwede (founded in 1902). This was later developed into a major shipyard with a wide range of vessels coming off the slipway over the years.
IHC Holland and De Merwede started to work together in 2005 and IHC Holland Merwede became a reality – and a major success story. The new organisation adopted the name of IHC Merwede and established itself as a leading international market player with branches throughout the world.