The yard’s future flagship, Project Zen, featuring the design by Guido de Groot, is the most ambitious custom project in Van der Valk’s history
Conceived as a 36-metre yacht, the project gradually grew to almost 48 metres and internal volume of 499 GT.
While designing the vessel, Dutch designer Guido de Groot drew inspiration from sports cars that the owner is passionate about. Thanks to the raised pilothouse, the yacht features a low profile and looks dynamic but not bulky. Automotive design influences are evident in the sweeping, continuous lines of the glazing, the massive bow section, the metallic finish and the futuristic lines characteristic of supercars.
However, it was not the speed that the vessel’s designers were after. The Fast Displacement Hull designed by Dutch Van Oossanen Naval Architects combines the benefits of displacement and planing vessels, allowing Project Zen to operate confidently and efficiently at different speeds. The vessel’s hydrodynamics is further improved by a Hull Vane, which is an aft-mounted underwater foil that reduces drag and fuel consumption while extending the range to 4,400 nautical miles at a speed of 10 knots. Project Zen’s provisional top speed is 17.5 knots, and the cruising speed is 16 knots.
The deck layout was designed around family life at sea. There is a cascading aft section with the main deck transitioning smoothly to a three-level beach area with fold-down side terraces. The split-level flybridge with an open aft section is home to a sunbathing area, a lounge and a bar under a hardtop. The foredeck accommodates a lounge with a jacuzzi.
The interior spaces’ design focuses on family life, too. For instance, the main saloon is connected to the show galley, where the owner and guests can watch show cooking, cook informal meals themselves or just get together for snacks. The full-beam owner’s suite is located on the main deck, too, next to the wellness area that includes a gym and a yoga studio featuring panoramic glazing. In total, there will be six guest cabins on board.
Construction of Project Zen started in October 2025. Now, another milestone, marriage of the hull and superstructure, has been completed at the yard’s facility in Waalwijk. According to the yard, the construction is going according to schedule with the delivery expected in Q2 2028.
“Our yard is attracting clients who love to immerse themselves in creating something special and are not prepared to settle for an off-the-shelf product. It's a lifestyle choice and they enjoy the process of developing their perfect yacht as much as they do the ultimate end result,” says Yoeri Bijker, Commercial Director at Van der Valk Shipyard.
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