Located in Waalwijk, a city in the south of the Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant (1 hour from Amsterdam), the Van der Valk shipyard – also known as the Dutch falcon due to its logo – extends over an area of over 9000 square meters, offering access to the water via 120 meters of quay.
The 7 halls (of which the seventh has just been inaugurated) are in full swing with the production of full custom and semi-custom (aluminium and steel) motor yachts between 25 and 40 meters in length, a specific segment in which the company has firmly established itself as a niche leader in the market.
Founded in 1967 by Wim Van der Valk, and with a production of yachts delivered to date of around 1200, the company remains privately owned: when last year the founder retired, a management buyout of Van der Valk’s shares and the arrival of new majority owners, marked a new beginning for the company, thus preserving its tradition, the same business model and the high quality aspect that has always characterized its products.
Yoeri Bijker (Sales Director) and Marina Bijker (Sales & Marketing) welcomed us to the yard after an interesting introduction to the history of the company and a report on the current state of production, which we cannot mention in full, we started the tour around the facility, with ONE moored at the dock, waiting waiting for some works and available for sale.
With a workforce of 50 people, the yard is capable of building 6-8 projects simultaneously, between 25 and 46 metres, and there is currently no interest to push into larger constructions. All production is in-house and includes aluminum and steel construction, engineering, carpentry, assembly, warehousing, fairing and painting, technical and electrical installation and main offices. Production is currently focused on a new 40-metre yacht, Project Evo, a 35-metre yacht, Project Samba and a 36-metre yacht Project Jangada, with discussion started for a bigger project.
Project Evo – One year ago Van Der Valk announced that construction has begun on Project EVO, a completely custom 40-metre superyacht that will be their largest to date in terms of length and volume. She has been commissioned by experienced clients who’ve owned various high-performance yachts and now desire a bespoke yacht for all the family. The dream team assembled to create this boat includes SFG Yacht Design, Fancy by Dada, Cristiano Gatto Design, Diana Yacht Design and Ginton Naval Architects. An all-aluminium bluewater cruiser with a round-bilged fast displacement hull, the seriously sleek exterior profile will be complemented by an equally detailed interior.
Project EVO will have first-class accommodations for ten, including a main deck master and two twin guest suites and two VIPs on the lower deck, plus eight crew. Built to ABS class, she will comply with the new IMO Tier III emissions regulations and have a projected top speed of 24 knots. “Van der Valk is one of the few yards able to build an all-custom superyacht in this size,” adds Yoeri Bijker. “Project EVO shows how clients can bring their own exterior designer without requiring a new hull, knowing their yacht will excel in terms of performance.”
Project Jangada – Last summer a new tailor-made 35m project has been commissioned at Van der Valk with a familiar name. Following on from the 25m Jangada and 32m World Superyacht Award nominee Jangada, the third Jangada will showcase how evolving client wishes can be seamlessly met when a yard has the flexibility, capacity and willingness to fully go with the flow.
The owner behind this trinity of Jangadas commissioned his first in 2013 and has since developed all three together with Van Der Valk and designers Nick Top and Guido de Groot. The evolution of the Jangada yachts has mirrored changes in the client’s life, including the need for more space to accommodate a growing family plus structural changes to his home berths in the Bay of St Tropez. Personal comfort wishes on this latest vessel include even lower levels of noise & vibration, hence the decision to have a steel hull and aluminium superstructure along with exceptional sound insulation throughout.
For times when the owner’s morning swim around the yacht is less appealing, the new Jangada will have a jet-stream pool integrated on the aft of the flybridge deck. Spanning 4.5m, it has a depth of 1.5m and will require some 7,200 litres of warm water, stored in a tank under the tender garage. Assimilating the pool was a complex ingredient for the exterior design, which retains the elegant raised pilothouse looks while offering the freedom of an extra deck. The result is an intricate deployment of graphic lines and a muscular yet timeless aesthetic.
The new Jangada will have giant windows in her main saloon and 2.6m ceilings due to the extra height generated by a raised seating area above the level of the recessed pool. These large windows enhance views from the interior, another specific owner request, as was the ability to fold away the dashboard screens in the wheelhouse lounge when at anchor.
Wide stairs and walkways will further enhance safety and comfort while twin Seakeeper gyros and Humphree fin stabilisers optimise performance at sea. A full-beam master is located forward on the main deck with the lower deck cabins fully tailored to the owner’s children and grandchildren. An exquisitely detailed interior style is being designed to match the way the family lives onboard as the Van der Valk craftsmen embark on the challenge of completing Jangada within just 18 months.
Project Samba – Announced last August this new construction started on the latest bespoke superyacht ordered from Van der Valk. Due for delivery in summer 2025, the 35-metre Samba will provide three generations of a family with the most relaxing rhythms of life on the water. The clients are very involved in the design process with Guido de Groot and every aspect of this all-aluminium tri-deck explorer is being custom-built from the waterline up.
Most memorable onshore homes have a great garden and this has been the thinking for Samba, where wonderful outdoor leisure spaces complement an exceptional residence at sea. An expansive aft deck includes a relaxation lounge zone with a large aft-facing sofa and formal dining table for alfresco meals. The beach club has a chill-out zone, luxurious sauna & steam room, day head and lots of washer/drier capacity. A large transformer platform descends into the water to facilitate swimming while a seamless flow with the interior spaces in terms of furniture and flooring adds to the good life vibe.
The engineering and naval architecture developed for Lady Lene has been utilised in a fast displacement hull for Samba with the same proven performance, comfort and safety. Guido and the clients have spent many hours developing the rhythmic lines, complex surfaces and sculptural elements of a distinctive explorer-like profile. Finely integrated balconies next to the wheelhouse provide great views for manoeuvring as well as being a neat design feature. Extensive 3D modelling means the owners already know how Samba will look and feel when completed.
The interior design also reflects the family ambiance onboard Samba, which features a pretty and practical style. Safety, comfort and convenience have played a key role in the layout. A central staircase running from lower to bridge deck serves as a piece of home-from-home art while facilitating freedom of movement. The galley will be regularly used by the family so has lots of working space, a cooking island and air extractors in the ceiling to avoid any spread of culinary aromas.
The main deck master includes an office and lounge seat for the owners to relax and read. A large bathroom arrangement with separate toilet and shower uses sliding doors to make the suite feel larger while his & her walk-ins further support long-term residency. On the lower deck are two VIPs and two twin suites, separated from three crew cabins in the bow by a watertight bulkhead. The captain’s comfortable cabin close to the wheelhouse includes an office with lots of space for storing files.