Vlietland is one of the Netherlands largest recreational water sports and nature reserves, loved by visitors for its beautiful surroundings and wide range of outdoor activities. However, in recent years, the lake has experienced bouts of blue green algae, largely caused by warm weather, thermal stratification and low dissolved oxygen.
Not long after completing his four year apprenticeship, Ashden Wilson was given the opportunity to supervise the installation of an ISS Flowthrough aeration system for our customer [Rijnland Regional Water Authority] at Vlietland. Below, Ashden shares his experience of taking on the project and stepping into a new level of responsibility.
Vlietland
2026 has been another busy year for ISS Flowthrough, and that momentum has continued with our recent aeration system installation at Vlietland in the Netherlands.
For a weeklong deployment, I had the opportunity to oversee and supervise the installation of an ISS Flowthrough aeration system across the 300 acre lake.
The project was completed for our long standing customer Rijnland Regional Water Authority, and we partnered with Duik- en Bergingsbedrijf Europa B.V., a diving and salvage company we’ve worked with on many projects in the past. It was great to work with the Europa team again. They are incredibly experienced, and we work really well together, which helped ensure the project ran as smoothly as possible.
Everyone at Europa was supportive throughout the installation, and we couldn’t have asked for a better team to work alongside.
The Challenge
Supervising this project was also a big step up in responsibility for me. Having the opportunity to oversee the entire installation myself gave me a huge boost in confidence and showed me that I’m ready to take on projects independently and tackle challenges as they arise.
Of course, no installation ever goes completely to plan, and we come against some challenges. But working closely with the Europa team, we were able to work through all problems confidently and find appropriate solutions without letting them delay the installation or affect our morale.
It was a great feeling knowing that I could face unexpected challenges, work together as a team and keep everything moving forward.
A Rewarding Experience
Overall, it was a really rewarding experience. I helped assemble the aeration system and supervised the installation from start to finish, so it was great to see everything come together successfully.
One of the things I enjoy most about my job is getting to work in new places and experience different sites. Every project is different, and each one brings its own challenges and learning opportunities. It’s something I really enjoy about working in this industry and at ISS Flowthrough.
I’m looking forward to supervising more projects independently in the future. We have lots of exciting new opportunities already underway, and we can’t wait to share more of them with everyone.
Ashden Wilson – Project Supervisor
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