In Profile:
Zeelander Yachts

Name: Floris Koopmans
Company Name: Zeelander Yachts
Position Within Company: Business Development Manager
Website: www.zeelander.com

Tell us a little about the company background:
Zeelander Yachts is a Dutch boutique yacht manufacturer specializing in luxury sports cruisers ranging from 14 to 24 meters. Founded in 2002 by entrepreneur and seasoned yachtsman Sietse Koopmans, the company was born from his pursuit of the ultimate day boat—one that would blend timeless design, refined comfort, and exceptional performance. Having circumnavigated the globe and logged over 150,000 nautical miles at sea, Koopmans brought a unique, first-hand understanding of what a yacht should offer in both form and function. Frustrated by the compromises he saw in existing designs, he spent over five years refining every detail, which ultimately led to the launch of the Zeelander Z44 at the Monaco Yacht Show in 2008.

The company’s headquarters and state-of-the-art production facility are located in Groot-Ammers, South Holland, Netherlands. Zeelander prides itself on meticulous craftsmanship, with each yacht requiring between 16,000 to 25,000 hours to build, involving over 250 skilled professionals across 28 disciplines. This dedication ensures that every vessel is a timeless work of art, reflecting Zeelander’s rich heritage and contemporary style.

Over the years, Zeelander has expanded its model range to include the Z55 in 2015, the Z72 in 2019, and more recently, the Zeelander 5, 6, 7, and 8 models. Each yacht is made to order, allowing for a high degree of customization to meet the unique preferences of discerning clients. In 2022, the company completed a significant expansion of its facilities, adding 40% to its capacity and enhancing its in-house capabilities, including the addition of a dedicated paint booth for vessels up to 25 meters.

Zeelander remains a family-owned business, driven by a passion for excellence rather than profit. This ethos is evident in its commitment to quality, innovation, and the creation of yachts that offer unparalleled experiences on the water.

How does your company approach each project from concept to completion?
At Zeelander, every project begins with a clear philosophy: we don’t design – we refine.
We follow a one-model philosophy—each Zeelander is a variation in scale of the same sculptural form. When the original Zeelander launched, its modern-classic design was already complete. That timelessness was intentional, and we remain committed to never altering its exterior. The curves, proportions, and lines are the essence of Zeelander—and they are here to stay.

The hallmark of every Zeelander is its flowing, curved design. It’s what gives the yacht its elegance, its presence, and its sense of quiet luxury. It’s also notoriously difficult to replicate. The complex forms demand rare craftsmanship and exacting production standards, which is precisely why they cannot be copied—and why a Zeelander feels and looks like nothing else on the water.

While the exterior remains consistent, the interior is a canvas for individual expression. Every Zeelander interior is guided by the client’s personal taste and vision. From materials to color palettes, textures to finishes—anything you can touch can be tailored. For clients who choose to go fully bespoke, we offer the freedom to reshape interior layouts entirely. The result is not simply a yacht, but a commissioned work of art: a space that reflects the art of living.

From the first sketch to final delivery, we collaborate closely with each owner to bring their vision to life, all while staying true to the timeless soul of Zeelander.

Where inspires your company in this sector?
Timeless icons, lived experience, and the sea itself.
Our design philosophy draws from enduring classics—the unmistakable silhouette of the Porsche 911, the craftsmanship and finish of a Rolls-Royce, and the elegant proportions of 1930s commuter yachts and traditional lobster boats. The original inspiration even included the sweeping stern of M/Y Aphrodite, a detail that still echoes in every Zeelander built today.

But beyond aesthetics, we are shaped by experience. With over 150,000 nautical miles under our founder’s belt—including a circumnavigation of the globe—we understand life at sea intimately. That knowledge guides every line, every curve, every detail. Not to follow trends, but to create something lasting.

In what direction do you feel that your projects are moving towards in a general sense?
We’re moving deeper into refinement, not reinvention.
Our direction is guided by consistency, not change. We’re not chasing trends—we’re perfecting what we already know works: timeless design, unparalleled craftsmanship, and the feeling of effortlessness on the water. While the core silhouette of the Zeelander remains untouched, we continue to evolve in materials, performance, comfort, and customization—always elevating the experience, never diluting the essence.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching projects in the future.
1. Bespoke Storytelling
We want to create interiors that are more than beautiful—they should reflect the character, passions, and lifestyle of their owners. Each yacht becomes a personal narrative, told through materials, layout, and detail.
2. Deeper Personalization
Beyond finishes, we’re exploring structural interior changes that allow clients even more freedom to shape their yacht around how they live and entertain on board.
3. Craftsmanship Without Compromise
As expectations rise, so will our standards. We aim to push craftsmanship even further—more handwork, more detail, more invisible perfection.
4. Sustainable Intelligence
Without losing elegance, we’re embracing smarter solutions—from silent systems and efficient propulsion to sustainable materials—where they enhance the experience without announcing themselves.
5. Emotional Design
We continue to focus on curves, proportions, and tactility—design that doesn’t shout, but stirs something deeper. Our goal is always to create a yacht that feels right, even before you understand why.

If your company could offer one piece of advice when it comes to projects, what would it be?
Be mindful of what custom truly means.
Customisation can be incredibly rewarding, but it often involves far more time, complexity, and cost than anticipated. Small changes may require significant adjustments in engineering or production. Our advice: choose bespoke elements with intention—and with an understanding of what it takes to execute them at the level of quality you expect.

How important are The International Yacht & Aviation Awards?
The International Yacht & Aviation Awards are a respected platform within the design world, and we value the recognition they bring.
While our focus has never been on awards, we do appreciate the opportunity to be acknowledged among the industry’s best. For a company like ours—rooted in long-term thinking and timeless design—it’s rewarding to see that approach celebrated. It’s not why we do what we do, but it is an honour when our work resonates with others.

What projects are you currently working on?
While we don’t publicly disclose our order book, we can say that every model in our range has a healthy backlog.

What was one of your company’s key projects to work on and why?
The Zeelander 8 stands out as one of our most defining projects to date.
As our flagship and the largest model we’ve ever built, it marked a bold step forward—both in scale and in ambition. At 24 meters, it sits deliberately at the edge of our range, just before the threshold of superyachts. We’ve always believed that beyond this size, you begin to lose the intimacy, elegance, and essence that make a Zeelander unique.

The Z8 presented new challenges, from preserving our iconic silhouette at a larger scale to accommodating a higher level of client-specific customization than ever before. We also set out to make it the quietest yacht in its class—and achieved just that, with only 65 dBA at full speed. In every sense, it’s the ultimate expression of what a Zeelander can be—timeless, sculptural, and effortlessly refined.

What was your company’s most challenging project to work on and why?
While not our most technically complex build, one of our most challenging projects involved a Zeelander 7 customized to match the interior of a client’s private jet.
The client requested a very specific look: varnished teak flooring with brushed aluminum strips—mirroring the unique interior of his aircraft. Instead of the traditional black caulking found on yacht decks, these brushed aluminum inlays were to sit between the teak planks.

At first, it seemed like a straightforward request, and we priced the customization accordingly. But once we began varnishing, we ran into an unexpected issue: the teak absorbed the varnish, while the aluminum strips did not. The result was a subtle waviness across the surface that didn’t meet our standards. To achieve the flawless finish we promised, we ended up applying 28 layers of varnish—over three additional months of labor—until the surface was perfectly smooth. What we thought would be a profitable upgrade turned into a costly and time-consuming lesson in just how complex bespoke requests can become.

This project is a reminder that customization often demands far more than meets the eye. It also reflects the lengths we’re willing to go to meet a client’s vision—without ever compromising on quality.

Which products/services could you not live without when completing projects? 
Every Zeelander is the result of a network of carefully selected suppliers, craftsmen, and artisans—each playing a pivotal role in the final product.
While we rely on many trusted partners, there is one individual whose contribution is truly irreplaceable: the artist responsible for the painted wood finishes on board.

Rather than using traditional wood caprails, bars, or tabletops—which require ongoing maintenance and inevitably weather with time—we use an advanced painted wood grain technique. It’s not imitation; it’s artistry. This specialist, the only one of their kind in the Netherlands, hand-paints each element to mimic the warmth and depth of natural wood, with stunning realism. The result is timeless beauty with minimal upkeep—blending practicality with pure craftsmanship.

What are your company’s aims and goals for the next twelve months?
In the next twelve months, our focus is on refining the way we build—without changing what we build.
We’re implementing more advanced use of PDM and ERP systems to streamline our production processes, improve traceability, and reduce inefficiencies. The goal is to support our craftsmen and engineers with better tools, so they can focus on what they do best: building yachts of uncompromising quality.

It’s not about speeding up—it’s about building smarter, with even more precision and consistency across every stage.

Interior Designer: Zeelander Yachts

Exterior Designer: Cor D. Rover Design

Shipyard: Zeelander Shipyard

Photography: Tom van Oossanen