Jurjen Anno Battjes (born 22 February 1939 in Winschoten, Netherlands) is a Dutch civil engineer and professor emeritus of fluid mechanics at Delft University of Technology. He is internationally recognized for his contributions to coastal engineering, storm‑surge protection, and the hydraulics of open‑channel flows.
Early life and education
Battjes earned his Master of Science in civil engineering from Delft University of Technology in 1962. He completed his doctorate in technical sciences at the same institution in 1974 under the supervision of Johan Schönfeld, with a dissertation entitled Computation of Set‑up, Longshore Currents, Run‑up and Overtopping due to Wind‑generated Waves.
Academic and professional career
After obtaining his MSc, Battjes spent four years (1962‑1966) as an assistant professor at the Laboratory of Coastal Engineering of the University of Florida, United States. He returned to Delft University of Technology in the late 1960s, where he held the chair of fluid dynamics and taught until his retirement in 2004.
Research contributions
Battjes’ research focuses on the dynamics of waves, tides, and storm surges, as well as the interaction of water with coastal structures. He developed theoretical and numerical methods for predicting wave‑induced set‑up, longshore currents, run‑up, and overtopping. His work has been applied to the design and assessment of flood‑defence systems, including the analysis of the 2005 levee failures in Greater New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, where he served on the External Review Panel as the sole non‑American member.
Honors and awards
- Member, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (1975)
- International Coastal Engineering Award, American Society of Civil Engineers (1990)
- Elected foreign member, National Academy of Engineering (United States, 2009) for leadership in coastal engineering and storm‑protection research
Selected publications
- Unsteady Flow in Open Channels (co‑author R. J. Labeur, Cambridge University Press, 2017) – recognized as an “outstanding academic title” by Choice magazine.
- Numerous peer‑reviewed articles on wave dynamics, coastal hydraulics, and storm‑surge modelling.
Legacy
Battjes is regarded as a leading figure in modern coastal engineering. His theoretical frameworks and computational tools continue to influence the design of flood‑defence infrastructure worldwide and serve as foundational references in the study of unsteady open‑channel flows.