Seven decades of Dutch craftsmanship
Feadship was established in 1949 as a cooperative between the Dutch yards De Vries and Royal Van Lent, with the naval architecture firm Nevesbu providing the engineering backbone. The name — an acronym of First Export Association of Dutch Shipbuilders — reflected the post-war ambition to bring Dutch shipbuilding expertise to the international yacht market. Over seven decades, the cooperative structure has remained intact while the vessels produced have grown in scale, ambition, and technical complexity.
The Feadship model is unusual in the industry: two distinct yards sharing engineering resources, naval architecture capability, and a common quality standard under a single brand. De Vries in Aalsmeer and Royal Van Lent in Kaag build independently but draw on the same pool of technical expertise. The result is a fleet of over 260 vessels — all different, all unmistakably Feadship. For the yard's own account of its history, the Feadship official website provides a detailed heritage section.
The Feadship engineering philosophy
Feadship is distinguished in the superyacht industry not by a house style but by an engineering culture. Where some yards compete on aesthetics or delivery speed, Feadship competes on the thoroughness of its engineering — the quality of its steel and aluminium fabrication, the precision of its systems integration, and the rigour of its sea trial and delivery process.
This culture manifests in Feadship's approach to sustainability. The yard's BREATHE initiative sets out a roadmap toward zero-emission superyacht construction. Savannah (2015) was the world's first large hybrid superyacht; Aquila (2023) extended this to include hydrogen fuel cells and advanced energy management. Classification is typically to Lloyd's Register standards, and Feadship vessels are built to comply with the most demanding commercial certification requirements as standard.
The Aalsmeer and Kaag yards
De Vries in Aalsmeer and Royal Van Lent in Kaag are both located on Dutch inland waterways — a practical necessity given that completed vessels must navigate to open water via the Dutch canal system. This geographical constraint has historically influenced the beam and air draft of Feadship vessels, though the yards have engineered solutions to deliver progressively larger vessels within these parameters.
Both yards operate covered building halls that allow year-round construction, and both have invested heavily in digital fabrication tools — CNC steel cutting, 3D hull modelling, and advanced outfitting simulation — that allow the precision for which Feadship is known. A third facility in Makkum handles structural steel fabrication for larger hull sections.
Commissioning a Feadship
A Feadship commission begins with an approach to the yard — typically through a specialist new build broker or project manager who can facilitate the initial discussions. Unlike some yards, Feadship does not take projects that do not fit its capabilities and values: the yard has declined commissions that would compromise its engineering standards or require delivery timelines incompatible with its quality process.
The commission process involves a preliminary design phase, technical feasibility review, and contract negotiation before a build slot is allocated. Build slots at Feadship are typically 4–6 years out from first contact. Buyers with a specific delivery requirement should approach early. For full guidance on the new build process, see our superyacht build guide and build timeline.
Notable Feadship yachts
The Feadship fleet contains some of the most technically significant vessels in superyacht history. Aquila (91.5m, 2023) redefined sustainable luxury at flagship scale. Savannah (83.5m, 2015) pioneered hybrid propulsion for the industry. Venus (78m, 2012) — designed by Philippe Starck for Steve Jobs — became one of the most discussed superyachts ever built. See the Feadship famous yachts guide for detailed profiles and the complete fleet listing for the full delivery record. Boat International's Feadship coverage provides additional editorial context.
Further reading
- Feadship.nl — official yard website, fleet, heritage and new build contact.
- Lloyd's Register — classification standards for Feadship vessels.
- Boat International — Feadship — editorial fleet profiles and delivery news.