About Vincent van Zelst

Vincent van Zelst is an advisor and researcher specializing in coastal Nature-based Solutions at Deltares. He is also pursuing a PhD in Coastal Engineering at Delft University of Technology.

His research focuses on ecosystem-based approaches to climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

This includes studying the role of coastal wetlands, such as mangroves and tidal marshes, in mitigating flooding and enhancing shoreline stability. These ecosystems are vital for protecting cities and coastal communities under current climatic conditions, and they offer a sustainable complement to traditional, man-made coastal protection infrastructure in the face of climate change.

Vincent joined Deltares in 2017 and has collaborated with development banks, NGOs, dredging companies, governments, and universities. He has contributed to initiatives such as the EcoShape consortium and the research programs NL2120 and RestCOAST. Leveraging his strong analytical background in coastal engineering, he combines global data science with numerical modeling techniques to derive actionable insights for flood risk management and climate adaptation. His work has also led to novel findings on a global scale, which have been published in various scientific journals.