The history of tunnelling can be traced back to 3000 B.C. The first tunnels and galleries are early signs of very advanced civilisations in Europe. In 1527, Agricola was the first to systemize the whole knowledge of his times; in 1867, Franz von Rziha wrote the first textbook on the art of tunnelling.
Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau AG has been and is working in all fields of conventional and mechanized tunnelling. The "Rennsteig Tunnel", Germany's longest road tunnel, and the "Westerschelde Tunnel" in the Netherlands are mentioned here as examples of the fine art of tunnelling. The former was driven using mining techniques. The latter, driven as much as 60 m below sea level using the mechanized tunnelling method, is considered worldwide to be an outstanding engineering feat.