On October 13, 2025, the General Directorate of Water Management (OVF) welcomed a Flemish (Belgian) delegation at its headquarters on Márvány Street. The meeting was held in the hope of future cooperation, as the colleagues coming from Flanders (a region of Belgium) showed great interest in water management experiences and developments of the Hungarian experts.
After a brief welcome and introduction, Mr. Jenő Lábdy, Head of the OVF's International Department, gave a presentation on OVF's operation, tasks, and water management challenges affecting Hungary. Afterwards, Mr. Niels Van Steenberge presented the activities of the Flemish Waterway Company (De Vlaamse Waterweg nv) and the water management characteristics of Flanders. The participants agreed that water management in both countries is highly dependent on water receiving from the neighbouring regions and that extreme weather events caused by climate change (droughts and floods) posethe biggest challenge for them.
Mr. Jenő Lábdy talks about the challenges caused by the climate change in Hungary
After a short coffee break, Ms. Ágnes Takácsné Tóth, an expert from the OVF's River and Lake Management Department, presented the state and the development of inland navigation and waterway maintenance in Hungary, followed by Leen Boeckx, an expert of Flanders Hydraulics, who provided insights into the water management and hydraulic characteristics of Flanders.
As a consequence of the presentations, the parties discovered several similarities in their water management practices, such as the fact that both countries are EU member states participating in the COMEX2 project and use similar methods for field measurements.
Members of the Flemish delegation (from left to right): Mr. Tim Wolff, Mr. Walewein Muylle, Mr. Niels Van Steenberge, and Ms. Leen Boeckx
However the sharing of professional experience did not end with this meeting: the Flemish delegation will enjoy the hospitality of the OVF throughout the week. As part of the program, they will jointly visit Kisköre and Győr, where they will tour the Kisköre Hydropower Plant, take a boat trip on Lake Tisza and on the Danube, and explore the Mosoni-Duna branch of the Danube and the Győr-Gönyű port. During these trips, they will also hold discussions with local water management experts about navigation and waterway maintenance, and visit the Mosoni-Duna sluice and the latest developments, including the so-called “smart” buoys equipped with modern sensors.
The delegation at “Kisköre”, at the Engineering Section (operational area of Middle Tisza District Water Directorate)
Photo: Middle Tisza District Water Directorate
Text, photo (second and third) and translation: Ms. Boglárka Kovács, intern, International Department, General Directorate of Water Management (OVF)