Andries Vierlingh

Andries Vierlingh (1507–1579) was a dyke builder and polder creator in the Netherlands who drew considerable attention to himself.

By 1540 he had already reclaimed some 4000 hectares of new land. This gave investors ideas; they could see a bright future and money to be made in territorial expansion. William of Orange was to be one of them.

Shortly before he died Vierlingh published a manuscript entitled Tractaet Dyckagie which is still valid as a warning against fundamental errors in land and water engineering management.