Three hulls in build at Van der Valk’s assembly halls in Waalwijk, The Netherlands

With the August 2024 announcement by Van der Valk shipyard that it was embarking on the new 35m tailor-made yacht Jangada – the third hull of the same name for the same St Tropez-based owner – there is no doubt that both craftsmanship and design have loyal patronage. Custom designs are the lifeblood of the Dutch yard, and a jet-stream pool on the aft flybridge is among feature requests for the latest Jangada.

The following month, during this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival, the newly launched 34m One was awarded the accolade of Most Achieved Yacht at the 2024 World Yachts Trophies.

The second Jangada, 32m, leaves the detailing hangar

Situated an hour south of Amsterdam in Waalwijk, in the south-central province of North Brabant, the Van der Valk facility has an office and seven state-of-the-art production halls.

Van der Valk is one of a handful of yards in the world with the capacity and flexibility to build fully bespoke superyachts between 25 and 45m in length above the waterline. Its reputation for yachts of premium quality has been honed over more than five decades of evolution that began with humble vessel builds and led to the offering of custom production over a decade ago, dealing with clients directly or through their representatives.

Launched in May 2024, the 34m One went on to win an award during the Cannes Yachting Festival

Van der Valk applies cutting-edge solutions, systems and materials to meet a client’s budget, and shipyard staff are encouraged to follow training courses and research new possibilities and applications. This ensures that their technical and client-service know-how is up to date. Today, its yard builds high-quality aluminium hulls in-house and takes care of all outfitting and finishing.

THE HISTORY

The shipyard founder, a passionate yachtsman and watersport enthusiast, Wim van der Valk launched the eponymous company in 1967. Over more than half a century, with the reputation for quality builds emerging across five model lines in the 1970s, Van der Valk progressed with a range of striking steel and aluminium motoryachts, attaining popularity and respect from other Dutch shipyards.

Founder Wim van der Valk retired in early 2024 but still serves as President Emeritus

In the mid-1980s, it launched the Vitesse series – steel and aluminium semi-displacement motoryachts for the high-end segment, which commanded high resale value.

Embracing new design, tech and materials is part of the yard’s signature modus operandi. The 2015 launch of the 37m Santa Maria T, the world’s first motoryacht to feature a two-axis fin antiroll damping system, was a great example of its forward-thinking philosophy.

Van der Valk was also one of the first yards to acknowledge the potential of the revolutionary Volvo Penta IPS propulsion when it was introduced, developing a special hull and new models for this drive system.

Blondie, a 28.5m serene classic Van der Valk design from 2020

Following its series in the 2010s, with the Raised Pilothouse, Flybridge, Explorer and BeachClub lines, as more owner additions and specifications became part of the sales pattern, semi-custom lines were offered, which then evolved into today’s fully-custom build options. Alternatively, customisation of the general finish and interiors of some existing current models – the Edge 65 and models of the BeachClub line – are also available.

On April 18, 2024, a management buyout of the founder’s shares in Van der Valk shipyard took place, financially supported by a collective of experienced yacht owners who previously commissioned three custom superyachts from the yard: the 27.5m Leven, a customised 19.6m Edge 65 and the 34m Lady Lene.

The gold and white hull of the 34m explorer Lady Lene

Today, Van der Valk appeals to clients around the world who are looking to build a luxury yacht up to 45m in length. The yard’s fully-custom options allow the creation of an entirely bespoke superstructure and interior, with a selection of propulsion types, swim platforms, balconies and bars, among other features.

Van der Valk partners with top Dutch naval architecture and design talent in the premium yacht and superyacht studios, including Guido de Groot, Carla Guilhem, Ginton Naval Architects, Cor D Rover, Diana Yacht Design and Van Oossanen. Clients are also welcome to bring their own designers into the tailor-made motoryacht creation process.

THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT

With a full order book stretching well into 2027, including the largest superyacht build to date – the 40m Project Evo – confidence in the future appears positive. Totalling more than 9,000sqm of state-of the-art facilities, the yard opened its seventh construction hall in November 2023.

Enrico Theuns, Bram Kooltjes and Yoeri Bijker took over the shipyard’s management in April 2024

The management team of Enrico Theuns, Bram Kooltjes and Yoeri Bijker draw on decades of combined experience in the high-end yachting industry and continue to enjoy the ongoing support of President Emeritus Wim van der Valk as an advisor to the board.

“The significant capital investment will enable Van der Valk to continue growing our unique niche in the market for bespoke yachts between 25 and 45m,” commented Yoeri Bijker, Head of Sales, at the time of the acquisition.

Van der Valk’s facilities cover over 9,000sqm

“The new primary shareholders fully understand our yard’s ethos having built several award-winning yachts with us and are committed to ensuring Van der Valk retains its Dutch structure, heritage and quality. We have a solid financial future as an independent entity with various options available for further expansion. Wim’s unrivalled legacy could not be in safer hands.”

BREAKDOWN OF CURRENT SHIPYARD FACILITIES

Three assembly halls include a state-of-the-art one opened in 2017 that measures 42m x 36m, with a height of 16m, enabling builds of motoryachts up to 40m in length with up to three decks.

The first hull of the Pilot series, now named D Rolli

The second hall covers 42.5m x 25.6m and, as well as building boats between 20-40m, contains a standalone carpentry factory and is used for exterior painting of yachts above 25m.

Hall three measures 35.5m x 36.4m and is dedicated to the construction and outfitting of yachts ranging from 15-25m. A new facility, hall seven, is 50m x 50m. Yachts below 25m are painted in Van der Valk’s exterior painting facility, which measures 30.5m by 22.7m and houses the paint coordination office.

Launched in 2023, the 34m D Rolli was delivered in 2024

There is also a 17.2m x 13.4m interior spray painting hall, used for smaller exterior elements and non-fixed interior components, including varnishing and veneering as well as complete repainting.

Van der Valk’s premises include a paved open area of 7,000sqm and there is access to the river via 120m of dock, which includes a crane with a capacity of 30 tonnes. The warehouse is the main location where parts are delivered.

The aluminum hull and superstructure of Blue Jeans, a raised pilothouse design

Van der Valk practices ‘just-in-time delivery’, which means that the necessary components arrive when they are effectively needed. Just-in-time delivery eliminates excess inventory and minimises stock-related overhead costs. The warehouse is 35.5m x 15.6m. With such facilities and an expanding order book in the past few years, the evolution of this shipyard appears to be in good shape.

“The Van der Valk owner today is international. We have clients from Asia – Hong Kong and Japan – but also North America and South America, and from the EU. In the past we often worked directly with the clients. These days it’s often with owners’ representatives, family offices and law firms,” Bijker explained.

Designed by Guido de Groot, the 34m Blue Jeans now resides in Hong Kong

“Projects have become larger and all the requests more complex. We adapted to this over the years, and today we have everything in line and all the specialists in house to serve our high-demanding UHNWI clientele.”

vandervalkshipyard.com