Few superyacht shipyards have the heritage of Balk Shipyard. The company has been in operation for 225 years, passing through eight generations of the Balk family, and has grown into a true leader in refit and repairs. ONBOARD joins Evan Kortmann, Chief Executive Officer at Balk Shipyard, to discuss the company’s colourful history and future developments
When Sijbrand Balk was working overtime to set aside enough Dutch Guilders to take ownership of a quaint shipyard in Elburg harbour in the late 18th century, little did he know the company would evolve into one of the world’s most comprehensive refit and rebuild yards, servicing some of the finest 25 to 65-metre private yachts in the world.
Sijbrand’s vision was firmly set on sailing boats, specifically traditional Dutch fishing vessels, commonly known as Smacks. These small, wooden, cutter-rigged sailing boats were a lucrative market, and the coastlines of Europe (and North America) were peppered with these vessels. Sijbrand Balk made his first sale in the very first year of ownership, and within five years, two Balk-built Smacks were sailing the North Sea.
“Our core values are deep-seated in tradition,” says Evan Kortmann, Chief Executive Officer at Balk Shipyard. “While our operational makeup has evolved, what we stand for hasn’t. We’re renowned for quality workmanship, accurate management, and our no-nonsense approach. These values, forged over 225 years, are the bedrock of our reputation.”
While these values have remained steadfast, the company itself has changed tremendously over the years. Balk Shipyard has navigated as many maritime revolutions, and the boutique Dutch refit and rebuild yard has continuously positioned itself at the forefront of change, providing bespoke solutions for the diverse needs of its clientele.
In the interwar period, Balk Shipyard completely shifted gears to focus on steel constructions. Under the custodianship of the first Daan Balk, the sixth generation of the family to helm the company, Balk Shipyard underwent a great transformation. Major innovations and investments were rolled out—winches replaced horses, and a trolley slipway replaced a sledge one.
As a result, commissions flooded in, and Balk Shipyard was not only building steel barges and yachts for its clients but also fulfilling orders for steel segments from neighbouring shipyards.
Fifty years and another tide of change later, Balk Shipyard had outgrown its facilities in Elburg and built a completely new yard in the picturesque port town of Urk, the Netherlands.
“The shipyard we opened in 2004 is where you’ll find us today,” says Kortmann. “It’s truly state-of- the-art. We have three large construction halls including two refit halls for yachts up to 45 metres and 65 metres respectively, climate-controlled and fully regulated, where we undertake most of our work. One of our unique features is our bespoke 1,000-tonne lift and slipway. Each hall contains a rail system connected to our slipway and an overhead crane, and there is no safer way to haul out and transport yachts.” It is not only because of its world-class facilities but also because of the sheer quality of its workmanship that clients return year after year. This is precisely why clients love returning to Balk Shipyard today.
TRUE SPECIALISTS
People who join Balk Shipyard typically stay. It boasts impressive retention rates. Located in the northeast of the Netherlands, near the IJsselmeer, the region is rich in maritime heritage. Few people here lack relatives who have earned their livelihood from fishing, sailing, or boat repairs. The region’s deep connection to the sea is remarkable, as is the local understanding of vessels of all shapes and sizes.
Balk Shipyard has harnessed this local – and often traditional expertise and combined it with the excellence required to refit and repair high-quality superyachts. This expertise has become a modern tradition, with knowledge passed down from generation to generation. Today, some third-generation artisans work at Balk, following in their grandparents’ footsteps and mastering the craft needed to maintain premier yachts. In total, the boutique refit and rebuild yard employs around 60 craftspeople.
“We would be nothing without our people,” says Kortmann. “It fills us with pride to know that Balk Shipyard has employed generation after generation of many local families. It’s even more gratifying that our people stay with us for as long as they do. We have many employees who have been with us for over 20 years, and regularly welcome new cohorts of the next- generation craftspeople.”
While the refit and rebuild yard can welcome 25 to 65-metre yachts from any shipyard, it has a deep affinity to those built by neighbouring yards in the Netherlands. Across the years it has serviced and refitted many yachts from leading Dutch superyacht builders. Being located in the Netherlands, it has built a robust network of key suppliers, designers and contractors who know these projects inside and out.
Balk Shipyard is also frequently commissioned by major new build shipyards – both locally and overseas – for large aluminium superyacht sections. Some of the largest yachts, either in build or delivered in recent years, have had major superstructure segments built at Balk Shipyard.
PRECISE PROJECT MANAGEMENT
The services offered at Balk Shipyard are remarkably varied. While they excel in complex refits and rebuilds, their location makes them an ideal stop-off point between seasons, or for yachts that venture north to cruise Scandinavian waters, for maintenance check-ups and class surveys.
“No two projects are ever the same for a refit and rebuild shipyard,” says Kortmann. “It’s imperative to have an agile workforce that can not only adapt to the diverse range of projects we receive. Some clients come to us with plans for a complete overhaul of their yacht, while others may want minor work and fine-tuning. Regardless of the scope, precise forecasting and management are of utmost importance.
Our job is not only to redeliver yachts in turnkey condition but to do so on time and within budget.”
This is where one of Balk Shipyard’s key strengths lies: its no-nonsense approach and clear communication. Each project—whether rebuild, refit, maintenance, or new build—is rigorously assessed and forecasted, giving clients a clear understanding of what the work will entail. While no easy feat, they always deliver.
REFIT FOR CHARTER
The recent news of the 50.4-metre Feadship Emerald rejoining the market gives us pause to reflect on the major transformation she underwent at Balk Shipyard between 2022 and 2023. Transformation is not an understatement. Emerald was completely reimagined.
In the 16 months Emerald was at Balk Shipyard, the team gutted and lengthened her and outfitted her to an exceptional standard, according to a modern and family-focused design outlined by Design Unlimited. She was reborn a star, and under the management of TWW Yachts has seen incredible success in the charter market.
After such a serious refit, Emerald’s market value went through the roof. Under her previous name and before the refit, she was chartering at €130,000 per week. The refit added €80,000 per week—nice margins for her owner. Commercial returns weren’t the objective for Emerald; they were just a positive consequence of the refit.
A SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION
A visit to Balk Shipyard today reveals their wide- reaching skillsets. Two of its construction halls are filled with long-term projects: a comprehensive motor yacht rebuild and a stunning new-build sailing yacht.
Much like Emerald, part of the current rebuild is an extension. The 24-metre pocket explorer Ursus has been extended by six metres, giving her a new L.O.A. of 30 metres, increasing living space and improving seakeeping. Her design and engineering are courtesy of Mulder Design, and the newly rebuilt explorer will be packed with world-class innovations when she hits the water.
While new builds aren’t the core focus at Balk Shipyard, the company’s versatile prowess makes them incredibly skilled in building the lightweight, performance-focused 44.5-metre sailing yacht Yemaya. Very few details have been shared about Yemaya, but we can expect big things.
“Our sights are firmly set on the future,” says Kortmann. “We are surrounded by many incredible new build shipyards here in the Netherlands, and our role as refit and rebuild specialists is to ensure that we have the capabilities to bring slightly older yachts up to the same standards.”
