Frank Spaargaren
Frank Spaargaren (20 December 1940 – 4 October 2020) was a Dutch hydraulic engineer who was one of the main designers of the Oosterscheldekering and served as a director of the Waterloopkundig Laboratorium in Delft. Graduation and early career After graduating in civil engineering from Delft University of Technology in 1964, he joined the Delta service of Rijkswaterstaat, in the hydraulic department. He supervised experiments at the (Hydraulic Research Laboratory). Beginning in the early 1970s, Spaargaren became involved in the Delta Works, principally with the works to close the Eastern Scheldt, and in 1971, he took charge of the project as Head of Service Execution. The Oosterscheldekering The closure of the Eastern Scheldt would be achieved by the construction of the (Eastern Scheldt Storm Surge Barrier), between the islands of Schouwen-Duiveland and Noord-Beveland. At nine kilometres in length, the dam was the largest project of the entire Delta Works. The dam had originally been designed, and partially constructed, as a fully closed structure. However, following public protests from environmental campaigners and fisheries groups, the Den Uyl cabinet decided in 1974 to make significant changes to the project and the requirements were changed to mandate a partially open dam. There was