Dutch Shipyard Kick-Starts Construction on Mega Custom Build: The 47.8 Metre Project Zen

The landscape of custom yacht building takes on exciting new contours as Dutch giants Van der Valk dive into constructing their most grandiose project to date, the mighty Project Zen. Commissioned as a family yacht, it began as a modest 36-metre design, gradually evolving to its current impressive 47.8 metres. The crux was offering enough room while maintaining its intimate ambiance, explained Bram Kooltjes, technical director at the yard. The process entailed gradually extending the proposed length until everything fit to perfection. Featuring an awe-inspiring all-aluminium RPH model, Project Zen is set to flaunt a low-profile exterior with a full-metallic finish. Sporting cues from high-end sports cars, this mammoth yacht taps into the client’s personal passion. The projected completion and delivery is slated for the second quarter of 2028.

This distinguished yacht is crafted with efficiency at its heart, according to designer Guido de Groot. The owner fancied a hull shape that facilitates smaller engines to enhance the vessel’s range. As swiftness wasn’t the prime interest, the design team focused on a long, sleek form to bolster the yacht’s elegant style. Onboard, a 6.25-meter Williams DieselJet and a Jet Ski will reside in a lower deck garage that features an easy-to-use side-opening ramp.

Every stage of this project factored in the owner’s very particular requirements. The main deck aft cascades down to a spacious sea terrace designed to provide a picturesque panoramic view of the surrounding waters. Electric sliding doors lead to a fully equipped sports garage and toy store. The indoor area has been designed specifically with family living in mind, boasting a well-equipped country-style kitchen with a dining area and a show gallery fit for show cooking. In addition, a full-beam wellness area with a yoga room and gym mere steps away from the owner’s suite brings in a taste of fitness luxury aboard this yacht.

The elaborate split-level sundeck splits into two parts with the aft portion allocated for sunbathing and casual get-togethers, whereas the front side offers an open-air lounge. ‘Project Zen is not only our largest undertaking but a fine display of what Van der Valk stands for: custom design from scratch in complete harmony with the owner’s vision’, says Kooltjes about this monumental project.