Growing to perfection

The project originally began as a 36-metre design, aligned with the owner’s vision for a family yacht that felt intimate while offering all the comforts and amenities they were used to enjoying on the water. As with all great designs, however, evolution was inevitable – and Van der Valk, along with its trusted design partners, was as always ready to adapt.

“As Guido de Groot began shaping the general arrangement, it quickly became clear that we couldn’t quite fit everything in,” explains Bram Kooltjes, technical director at Van der Valk. “We extended to 38 metres, then 40, and from there the design gradually grew – first to 42 metres, and finally to its ultimate length of 47.8 metres.”

Efficiency in motion: designing a long-range Fast Displacement yacht

Van Oossanen Naval Architects’ fast displacement hull form (FDHF) was selected for this project, offering the ideal balance of performance and efficiency. The hull was designed from scratch – initially for the early 36-metre concept, and then again as the yacht evolved to its final length of 47.8 metres. Designed for fast, efficient cruising rather than outright speed, she will reach a top speed of approximately 17.5 knots and comfortably cruise at 16 knots, with a transpacific range of 4,400 nautical miles at 10 knots. Enhancing efficiency even further, the hull is fitted with a Hull Vane – an aft-mounted underwater foil that significantly reduces drag and fuel consumption while extending the range.

“Project ZEN is built on an entirely new platform, developed with efficiency as a top priority,” says Guido de Groot. “The owner wanted a hull shape that would support smaller engines and maximise range. As top speed wasn’t a concern, we focused on a long, sleek form that also supports the yacht’s elegant styling.”

Supercar spirit, superyacht soul

The exterior takes inspiration from sports cars – one of the owner’s personal passions – and will feature a striking full-metallic paint finish. Yet, behind its streamlined profile, the yacht offers an impressive volume of 499 gross tonnes, along with generous deck space throughout. Both the interior and exterior layouts reflect an active, family-focused lifestyle.

The owner and his design team have been deeply involved in every stage of the project – right down to the details that others might overlook. “He loves to swim and enjoys viewing his yacht from the water while swimming around it,” adds De Groot. “With that in mind, the owner specifically asked us to show renderings of how the yacht would appear from that perspective, which was a first for us!”

The main aft deck flows seamlessly down to a large sea terrace, which opens on three sides thanks to fold-down bulwarks. Retractable self-levelling swim stairs ensure effortless access to and from the water. Just forward, electric sliding doors lead to a spacious sports garage and toy store, fully equipped with the family’s eFoil boards, Seabobs, wakeboards and more.

The art of entertaining at sea

As befits a yacht designed for family moments, a generous bow lounge offers a serene spot to enjoy the breeze underway or at anchor. A spa pool will provide the perfect place for a sunset soak. The bow deck also accommodates a dedicated garage for the MOB tender, while a larger 6.25-metre Williams DieselJet and a jetski will be housed in a lower deck garage, accessed via a side-opening ramp for easy launch and retrieval.

Up top, the expansive split-level sundeck is designed for both relaxation and entertaining. The generous aft area is dedicated to sunbathing and socialising, while beneath the hardtop forward lies an open-air lounge, essentially an outdoor salon, featuring a wet bar, grill, comfortable seating and alfresco dining. Thoughtful design ensures seamless movement around the yacht, with side-deck access providing a direct route to the foredeck and ground tackle.

The emphasis on relaxed family living continues on the main deck, where the aft main salon flows naturally into a welcoming country kitchen. This space includes a dining area and a show galley that can be used by the chef to cook in front of the owner and guests, or by the owner and guests themselves to prepare informal meals and snacks. A fully equipped professional galley is located forward to port, ensuring the yacht is ready for all levels of entertaining. “Dining together is more important to the family than lounging,” notes De Groot. “They’re unlikely to spend much time in the salon and will regularly gather to enjoy meals in the show galley; it’s the heart of the space.”

A floating oasis

The main deck offers a generous forward full-beam owner’s suite as well as a unique surprise: a full-beam wellness area featuring a gym to port and a yoga room to starboard. “The gym and yoga room both have a large glass sliding door,” says Arno de Wit, project manager at Van der Valk. “It’s a standout element of the yacht, not just visually, but functionally too, with excellent cross-ventilation and a seamless indoor-outdoor connection. The wellness area is designed with flexibility in mind: it can serve as a private retreat for the owner when combined with the master suite, or remain open for family and guest use by closing off that suite.“ De Wit adds. “In fact, the inclusion of the gym and yoga room is one of the key reasons the yacht grew in length.”

Laid-back luxury

One of the standout features of the general arrangement is the generous sense of space throughout. As De Groot explains, this was another top priority for the owner. “Large windows maintain a close connection to the sea, and the main deck offers ample room to move around freely. Nothing feels cramped and even the staircases are wide and gently sloped. In fact, this is the most relaxed set of stairs we’ve ever designed, offering more like a gentle stroll than a climb.”

While the interior style has yet to be finalised, De Groot says it will be designed around the lifestyle the owner is looking forward to enjoying with family and friends, and that means homey, casual chic and with practical finishes. “Despite the yacht measuring 48 metres, the owner intends to remain hands-on, continuing to treat her with the same personal involvement and intimacy as if she were a much smaller vessel.”

Shaping the future: a flagship in the making

“Project ZEN will be the largest yacht we’ve built to date and more importantly, will exemplify everything a Van der Valk stands for,” concludes Kooltjes. “Crafted to the highest Dutch standards, she will showcase our ability to deliver a true custom design, developed from the ground up in close collaboration with the owners. Throughout the process, we’ve adapted every detail to reflect their vision, resulting in a truly bespoke dream yacht.”

Construction has just been started and delivery is scheduled for the Q2 2028.