Why Leapher Yachts Could Be the Next Big Dutch Shipyard

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 09:35:10 +0000

The Netherlands has long been regarded as one of the most prestigious yacht building nations in the world, with names like Feadship, Oceanco, Heesen and Damen setting the standard for quality, innovation and pedigree.

In this video, I take a look at a much newer name on the Dutch scene: Leapher Yachts. Based in Tolkamer on the banks of the Rhine, this boutique shipyard has transformed a historic former cruise ship building facility into a focused production hub for serious explorer yachts.

What makes that especially remarkable is the scale of its first project. Leapher has just launched Horizon II, a 60.9 metre explorer yacht built for long-range adventure, polar capability and extended autonomy. For a young shipyard, that is an incredibly bold statement of intent.

We’ll look at the vision behind the yard, the man leading it, the strategy of focusing on the 50 to 82 metre explorer segment, and why Horizon II is such an important launch. With a steel hull built to Ice Class and Polar Code standards, around 9,000 nautical miles of range at 10 knots, and up to 40 days of autonomy, this is a yacht designed to go far beyond the usual cruising grounds.

I also talk about the team behind the project, including Van Oossanen Naval Architects, O7 Designers and Cor D. Rover Design, and why Leapher’s positioning in the market is so interesting at a time when entering Dutch yacht building is no small challenge.

If you enjoy learning about the yacht industry, yacht builders and the latest new launches, this is a story well worth knowing.

And next Saturday, we have something very different coming up on the channel: a full walkthrough of a beautiful Italian yacht called Serenity, filmed in Turkey with fantastic weather and a very helpful crew. I’ve been looking forward to sharing that one, so make sure you’re subscribed and don’t miss it.

Let me know in the comments what you think of Leapher Yachts and whether this new Dutch shipyard has caught your attention too.

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