Zeelander Yachts is finishing 2022 on a high note, the Dutch yard has added 40 per cent to its capacity, and launched the restyled Zeelander 6. Meanwhile, a detailed rebranding exercise has created a new visual identity for the brand which fits its core values more closely. Zeelander has also completed a successful recruitment drive to enlarge its skilled workforce by 45 per cent. The new staff are supporting the extension of the yard itself, which has been able to grow on land adjacent to the waterside site in Groot-Ammers, the Netherlands. 



Strong demand for Zeelander’s yachts, especially in the US and the Netherlands, persuaded us of the wisdom of investing in sustainable growth,” says Sietse Koopmans, Zeelander Yachts Founder. “Fortunately, we have been able to do this at the existing waterside site in Groot-Ammers, where we have added building sheds and office space, as well as a dedicated paint booth. We may be growing, but it is not our ambition to be the biggest. We remain committed to being the best.”



Boats up to 25m (82ft) in length can be accommodated in the paint booth, meaning that Zeelander yachts can for the first time be entirely spray-painted in house. The process is painstaking, and similar to that applied to a superyacht. When the hull comes out of the mold, it is faired, painted and sanded until seven coats of paint have transformed it with a perfect finish. The hull is always metallic, while the superstructure is pearlescent, both with the deep shimmer only found on a Zeelander.



“By adding capacity to our shipyard we have created new build slots which weren’t previously available,” adds Koopmans. 

The Zeelander’s range currently consist of three yachts – 5, 6 and 7. A larger boat was also promised by the builder. 



“We were always clear that we would increase the model range once we had simplified our offer and perfected our styling,” says Koopmans. “When the first new Zeelander 5 is launched in the spring of 2023, that process will be complete, and we will be able to lift the covers on a new, bigger yacht. More details will be revealed in the spring, but suffice it to say she will be every bit as sophisticated, sensual and serene as our smaller yachts.”



Zeelander Yachts was founded in 2002 in the Netherlands by Sietse Koopmans. The first model was unveiled to the public in 2008. The launch model Z44 received positive reviews at the Monaco Yacht Show and drew enormous crowds, despite being at an event dominated by much larger yachts. Within three years, the Z44 had been successfully introduced to the US as well as Europe, and it was an obvious direction to add a larger model to the fleet. The first Z55 was delivered in November 2015, and the flagship Z72 was launched in March 2019.

Credits: Guillaume Plisson/Zeelander Yachts

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