Zeelander completes major expansion in anticipation of strong growth in 2023
by Zeelander Yachts 21 Dec 2022 02:37 PST
Zeelander Yachts is finishing 2022 on a high note, after a year of steady expansion and growth. The Dutch yard has added 40 per cent to its capacity, and launched the seductively 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 founder Sietse Koopmans. "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. Every one of our boats is unique, built individually to an unparalleled standard of quality. Owning a Zeelander will always be something very special."
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 mould, 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. "It means that a select few will have the opportunity to order a new Zeelander yacht in 2023, where they would otherwise have had to wait several years."
Rebranding has gone hand-in-glove with expansion, to create a more coherent range of yachts that fully reflects Zeelander's visual identity of sophistication, sensuality and serenity, combined with timeless contemporary styling. The brand has moved away from naming boats according to their length in feet, preferring instead the simpler, more satisfying convention of using a single digit. The Zeelander 5, 6 and 7 are three different models with one soul.
Zeelander is constantly evolving, so while its range of three powerful yachts showcases a timeless aesthetic, each is a contemporary creation. Whisper quiet operation, blissfully smooth ride and peerless finish combine to make these boats the modern classics that they are. Not surprisingly, then, clients have been enquiring about a larger boat - a request that Zeelander is delighted to oblige.
"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."