The Dutch royal family has published the following news release about the upcoming visit of Her Majesty Queen Máxima to the opening of the new Feadship yard in Amsterdam.

Her Majesty Queen Máxima will open the new Feadship yard in the port of Amsterdam on Thursday 16 May. Feadship is a cooperative venture between Royal Van Lent Shipyard and Koninklijke De Vries Scheepsbouw. The opening of the new facility forms part of the 170-year celebrations of Royal Van Lent, which can trace its roots on De Kaag back to 1849.

Feadship’s new yard in Amsterdam will allow it to build and refit larger and wider superyachts up to 160 metres in length. The craftsmanship, innovation and employment opportunities will also further strengthen the port of Amsterdam and its surrounding regions.

Established in 1949 to facilitate the export of Dutch yachts on the international market, Feadship today employs around 1800 specialists in a wide range of disciplines including design, interior construction and naval architecture. In addition to the yards, Feadship also includes a high-tech design and engineering bureau as well as its own training institute for yachtbuilding-related skills.

The opening of the futuristic Amsterdam yard will also be a time to look back at the history of the family companies involved in Feadship and the vital importance of yachtbuilding to the Dutch economy. Some 25 superyachts of more than 30 metres in length are exported from the Netherlands each year, with Feadship being responsible for around 20 percent.

During her visit to the new Feadship yard, Queen Máxima will be shown a selection of classic yachts that are part of the Feadship Heritage Fleet. Her Majesty will also be given a short presentation on the history of Royal Van Lent and meet staff members who have been trained by the Feadship Academy. Last but not least, attention will be paid to the sustainable and innovative solutions that Feadship is applying to the yachtbuilding sector. 

Beeld: © RVD - Erwin Olaf