The firm established its reputation within Dutch borders with the construction of the Afsluitdijk in 1932 and the Velser tunnels in 1957.
During the Battle of The Afsluitdijk, he rallied his men to successfully push back the German attackers.
However, since the formation of the Zuiderzee and obstruction from the Afsluitdijk, the IJssel no longer flows into its estuary, the Vlie, now restricted in meaning and referring only to the strait separating the islands of Vlieland (itself named after the Vlie strait) and Terschelling.