The Joint Research Centre Zeeland (JRCZ) in the Zeeland capital Middelburg is a unique research institute. Here, students, researchers, companies and the government work together to find solutions to urgent, social issues in the South West Delta.

Address & Contact

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Monday till Friday: 8:00 - 18:00 hours

By bicycle

Coming by bike? On the grounds next to the JRCZ you will find a bicycle shed.

By car

You can find directions on Google Maps. It is not possible to park directly at the JRCZ on Het Groene Woud. There is 1 special parking space available on the grounds for people with disabilities and/or chronic conditions.

A number of spaces are available in the car park on Kousteensedijk for visitors, staff and students of the JRCZ. This car park is an 8-minute walk from the JRCZ. Upon showing your entry card, you can then get an exit card at the JRCZ service desk.

Visitors can also find paid parking in the area.

With a group

Are you coming to the JRCZ with a group of 10 people or more? Then we ask you to park in one of the nearby parking garages. We recommend parking Hof van Tange and parking garage Geere. Both parking garages are within 7 minutes walking distance from the JRCZ.

Public transport

The JRCZ is easily accessible by public transport. Several bus lines stop near the JRCZ. If you travel by train, it takes about 10 minutes to walk from Middelburg Central Station to the JRCZ.

Impression

Our study programmes

Water Management student in a green field in Zeeland, Netherlands

Water Management

Full time

How do we deal with floods, sea level rise, drought, water pollution and plastic soup? How does a city remain liveable despite extreme heat? And how do we ensure sufficient clean drinking water for a growing world population? With the Water Management programme, you will work on solutions to the water problems of today and the future.

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Civil Engineering student posing in front of the Zeelandbrug

Civil Engineering

Full time

Are you interested in contributing to the construction of the largest lock project in the world? In determining how high and how strong dikes should be to ensure flooding does not take place? Or would you like to make sure that people and animals can continue to live safely near coasts and rivers despite climate change? If your answer is ‘yes’ to the questions above, the Civil Engineering programme at HZ may be the right choice for you! It is expected that by 2050 80% of the world's population will live in delta areas. In these areas, where rivers meet the sea, there are increasing challenges due to climate change. With your expertise as a civil engineer, you will tackle problems such as coastal safety and urban flooding and contribute to safety in deltas around the world. During your study, you learn everything about the design and building of large constructions and managing huge international projects. Examples include the Panama locks in the Panama Canal; the Channel tunnel that connects the United Kingdom with France; and the magnificent Palm Islands in Dubai, a design that could have been yours if you were already a civil engineer! Doing Civil Engineering at HZ means you are studying in the middle of a delta area: when walking out of the university of applied sciences, you will encounter your field of work all around you. Did you know that the Dutch Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier is one of the seven modern wonders of the world and that this construction can be found at 30 minutes from HZ? Employers are lining up for you as a graduate, because at HZ you are not only trained theoretically, but also practically. Right from the start of your study, you will be applying the theory of your future work field in the actual practice. During the lectures you will work on (international) assignments from the professional field, you do two internships with organisations in the Netherlands or abroad and you choose a minor: a half-year programme whereby you further specialise yourself in a company of your choice. In this way, you already gain ample work experience during your studies, and you will be optimally prepared for your career. Civil Engineering is a top-rated programme The study programme Civil Engineering is a top-rated programme according to the Keuzegids 2025.

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Chemistry students looking at a microscope

Chemistry

Full time

Chemistry is experimenting, researching and analysing. Do you want to make sure diseases are no longer life-threatening or solve murder cases based on DNA analysis? Do you want to create a better world? Then choose for the Chemistry degree programme.

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Male HZ student smiling at the camera

River Delta Development (MSc)

Full time

Do you want to play a crucial role in shaping the river deltas of the future? Are you keen to find solutions to one of this century’s most pressing challenges? Then the master’s degree River Delta Development is for you! River deltas are not only home to millions of people and several different ecosystems, they are also essential for global food production and economic activity. These areas are under pressure, because of climate change, the rise in sea levels and overpopulation. Floods, subsidence and the salinisation of groundwater are just some of the challenges we face, which is why we need visionaries who can build bridges between ecology, technology and society.Bring technological change into practice The programme prepares you for a role as a 'facilitator of change', a professional who makes practical use of advances in technology so that people and nature can live in harmony with water. The focus of the programme is on developing ideas and solutions in which you listen to stakeholders and involve them in sustainable, long-term solutions which receive broad support.Collaborate with professionals in Living Labs You combine theoretical knowledge about the way delta systems function with practical assignments in 'Living Labs', real locations in delta areas where you work together with local communities, companies and policy makers. For example, how do you design a climate-resistant riverbank for the Grevelingenmeer that everyone is happy to support? You look at technological possibilities, costs and the risk of rises in water level, and the needs of both residents and farmers.Study in 3 places in the Netherlands This master’s is a unique joint degree from three institutes of higher learning with special expertise in water: HZ University of Applied Sciences (coastal area), Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences (river systems) and Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (urban water). Studying and working at these three locations will increase your understanding of different types of delta area and your network within the field. After you have completed your studies, you can work for international organizations, consultancy firms, government agencies or NGOs. Whether you choose a career as an urban planner in a big city built near water, a consultant on sustainable agriculture in a fertile delta or a researcher into healthy river systems – the world is your oyster.

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Our other locations

Building HZ Edisonweg Vlissingen

Edisonweg, Vlissingen

The Edisonweg site in Vlissingen consists of the main building, the HZ Tower and the PSD building. At this location, you can find all study programmes in the fields of Economics & Management as well as Social Studies. The international programmes that are offered here are International Business, Logistics Engineering and Tourism Management.

Streetview of the HZ Groene Woud location

Het Groene Woud, Middelburg

At the Groene Woud campus you can find a number of technical study programmes: Chemistry, Global Project and Change Management, Information & Communication Technology, Industrial Engineering & Management, Water Management and Civil Engineering. The Joint Research Center Zeeland is also built at this location.

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