Zeelander Yachts has added 40% to its manufacturing facility in Groot-Ammers, the Netherlands, and launched the restyled Zeelander 6 yacht. The company has also recruited new employees to expand its workforce by 45%.
“Strong demand for Zeelander’s yachts, especially in the U.S. and the Netherlands, persuaded us of the wisdom of investing in sustainable growth,” Zeelander founder Sietse Koopmans said in a statement. “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 82 feet long can be accommodated in the new paint booth, which means that new Zeelanders can be painted in-house for the first time. When the hull comes out of the mold, it is faired, sanded and then painted.
“By adding capacity to our shipyard, we have created new build slots which weren’t previously available,” said 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.”
The rebranding effort has moved away from naming boats according to their length in feet. Instead, a single digit will be used for the Zeelander, 5, 6 and 7.
