Many Dutch bridges were constructed in the decades following World War II and are now reaching the end of their service life. While their overall functionality may be declining, individual components still retain significant structural value. In light of increasing circularity ambitions, reusing these components presents an opportunity to reduce emissions and maximize this residual value. However, steel bridge component reuse remains uncommon in the Netherlands. This thesis investigates why that is the case and what is needed to stimulate broader adoption. The main research question is: “What is needed to stimulate the adoption of steel bridge component reuse among stakeholders in the Dutch construction industry?”

A mixed-method approach was applied, combining literature research, a technical case study, and sixteen interviews with actors from across the construction supply chain. The literature review identified five key obstacles to reuse, difficulty in sourcing of the steel, lack of design guidelines, missing EU regulations, cost uncertainty, and behavioral resistance.

To address the technical gap, a design guideline was developed based on the case study of the Freebrug in Oude Pekela. The focus was placed on Orthotropic Steel Decks (OSDs), where fatigue, corrosion, and their combination were modeled as key damage mechanisms. A finite element model incorporating past loading scenarios and critical weld zones showed that technical reuse is possible, even when damage is present. The resulting design guideline consists of three structured steps: (1) documenting initial data, (2) assessing condition during service life, (3) choosing feasible reuse applications.

Besides to that, interview results revealed nineteen obstacles, of which fourteen were not found in literature, suggesting that practice is evolving beyond academic literature. Two obstacles stood out as most frequent: ‘Availability of steel’ and ‘Negative attitudes’, both acting as ‘pillars’ rooted in deeper systemic issues. Some theoretical concerns, such as missing EU regulation or cost uncertainty, were viewed with more nuance or even downplayed by stakeholders.

Fifteen distinct strategies aiming to address these reuse obstacles were identified in interviews, the most common being: making reuse a requirement in tenders, creating supply storage locations, and training the supply chain through partnerships. To interpret the interrelations between these strategies, they were clustered into three systemic themes: (1) Rules and regulations, (2) Collective learning and shared responsibility, and (3) Practical and physical logistics. This interpretive lens revealed a misalignment between ambition and action, willingness and structure, and innovation and conventional routines.

The thesis concludes that stimulating reuse adoption requires both technical verification and systemic realignment. From a Structural Engineering perspective, the design guideline provides a replicable method to assess reuse potential for steel bridge components. From a Construction Management perspective, adoption is hindered by systemic misalignments. These two dimensions are inseparable: technical confidence alone is insufficient without systemic readiness. Reuse must be understood not as an isolated effort, but as a broader system transition requiring coordination, and adaptive capacity across the entire construction chain.