Milembe Mateyo - State Harbor Master of the Port of Amsterdam

What kind of work do you do?

I am the National Harbor Master. That means I am responsible for nautical safety in Amsterdam and the North Sea Canal, from 12 miles off the piers of IJmuiden to the Oranjesluizen in Amsterdam. Our work at the Harbor Master’s Division (DHM) involves managing maritime traffic in the North Sea Canal area. We inspect, enforce regulations, operate the locks, and assist ships when necessary. And, of course, we respond to incidents to keep the port safe.

Every year, 7,000 seagoing vessels and 40,000 inland waterway vessels enter Amsterdam. We have a staff of 180, 130 of whom work around the clock. I manage that team. In addition, I deal with the administrative context—I consult with all levels of government: aldermen, mayors, the relevant ministries, and, of course, the Port Authority’s executive board. There are many interconnections. I’ve held various positions in urban planning, and even then I had a lot to do with the port. I immediately felt at home at the Port Authority, mainly because the people here are so committed to their work.

Does being a woman play a role in your studies?

I rarely think about the fact that I’m a woman. What’s more, I’m the fourth female harbor master in a row. In that sense, the path had already been paved. I was quite young when I started as a manager in a maritime environment, and I really had to learn the ropes on the job. I had no experience or nautical background. So: Showing who I was as a person. Standing up for what you believe in and trusting your intuition. A fantastic learning experience.

Perhaps it’s a blind spot that I’ve never wondered if things would have been different if I were a man. I’ve always been treated with respect and hope that’s not just a result of my position. As a woman, you do bring a different kind of energy to the table: primarily focused on connection and listening, whereas men tend to be more about immediate problem-solving and taking action. I’m very good at delegating, but I’ll wait longer before taking action, and try to figure out what the real issue is. Except in a crisis—then I decide immediately.

What do you like most about your job?

I thought SAIL was the best one yet. I was standing on the bow of the tall ship when the lock opened so we could sail into the canal. A captain said, “I’m not going in there. I don’t see any water.” All you could see were small boats. Eventually, he was convinced. And sure enough, everyone automatically made way.

SAIL is a massive undertaking that we’ve been working on for two years—in addition to our regular work. Above all, there’s a lot of coordination: with the safety region, municipalities, police, Rijkswaterstaat… The fact that the entire logistics operation involving tens of thousands of vessels simply worked out, and everything went off without any significant incidents, gives me an enormous sense of satisfaction and pride. And of course, it’s wonderful that we’re able to showcase our connection to maritime history so well.

I truly consider this position an honor. On the one hand, I love working with our own people, who are so dedicated, across various departments within our division and at different locations. On the other hand, there’s the complexity of the administrative side. I deal with various municipalities and safety regions, police units, Rijkswaterstaat, and the province, through which the canal winds like a blue thread. That’s fun. And when I’ve had enough of meetings, I pop over to the lock for a bit, or I go for a short boat ride. That instantly recharges my energy. And I know what I’m doing it for: helping to ensure the port can operate safely.