To our deep regret we were informed that on November 12th of this year Professor Henk Jan Overbeek has passed away. For many years, Professor Overbeek has served our organization as Secretary-General. In 2003 he was awarded the Honorary Fellowship of our organization and in 2015 the Honorary Chair of the 2015 Advisory Board. It is with deep gratitude that we remember his important contributions to our Association.

Professor Overbeek graduated from Delft University of Technology, specialization River Engineering. After graduation he joined Delft Hydraulics and later on the Board of Directors of this institute, first as Director Science, and later as Director General.  In 1998 he moved to Delft University of Technology, to become Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences. This commitment ended in 2001, after which he continued as private consultant. 

At the national level, Professor Overbeek also served in several high-ranking advisory committees, among which from 2005 till 2015 the prestigious governmental Water Advisory Committee, chaired by the present King of the Netherlands.

We will not only remember Henk Jan Overbeek as a key figure in the history of the International Association of Hydraulic Research, but also as a most amiable and accessible person to all of us.

By Prof. Dr. Huib J. de Vriend, Former Director of Deltares, and Professor at Technical University Delft

 Condolence messages

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It is with deep sadness that we honor the memory of Engineer Henk Jan Overbeek, a man whose impact on Colombian hydraulic engineering remains as profound and enduring as the waters of the Magdalena River he so meticulously studied. His time in our country left far more than technical data; it left a legacy of scientific excellence and unwavering commitment. We remember with special gratitude his leadership during the Dutch-Colombian Mission (MITCH) in the 1970s. 

Based in Barrancabermeja and operating from the research vessel "El Explorador," his work alongside esteemed engineers such as Mr. Prins and Héctor Guzmán laid the vital foundations for modern river navigation in Colombia. Engineer Overbeek did not merely analyze the currents of our most important river; he generously shared his expertise, becoming an indispensable reference for understanding the complexities of our waterways. His passing is a great loss to the field of science, yet his life’s work remains alive in every study and project that continues to drive the development of our fluvial heritage. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the global engineering community that had the honor of working by his side. 

May his legacy continue to navigate through the history of fluvial engineering. 

With deepest sympathy,

Orlando Guzman
Barrancabermeja, Colombia