Zeelander 8: Curvy 24 metres from the Netherlands

Zeelander remains Zeelander. This has not changed with the recently launched Zeelander 8, and the Dutch have refused to water down the external design features for over 15 years. At first glance, the almost 24 metre long flagship looks like an upscaled version of the smallest model, the Zeelander 5. For the Zeelander 8, Cor D. Rover drew classic, gently curved lines, relying on an almost all-round windscreen - and of course on the heavily slanted tumble-home stern. You will look in vain for right angles on the 6.80 metre wide yacht.

Lobster boats were the inspiration for the design

Designer Cor D. Rover found inspiration on the other side of the Atlantic: "I was impressed by the timeless beauty of New England and its lobster boats and the classic fast commuter yachts that business tycoons used to commute from their Long Island estates to their Wall Street offices every morning." The Zeelander team paid a lot of attention to minimising noise and vibrations. According to the shipyard, the noise level below deck does not exceed 65dBa - at full load. And thanks to the four IPS units from Volvo Penta (1350), that means a whopping 40 knots. Below deck, there are three double cabins and three crew berths forward. At the touch of a button, the stern swings open to form a twelve square metre bathing platform.

A second Zeelander 8 is under construction

Zeelander owner Sietse Koopmans commented on the launch of the flagship: "I believe that the Zeelander 8 represents the pinnacle of performance and comfort for the world's most demanding owners. We have already started building the second hull." Koopmans founded Zeelander after the market failed to offer him a yacht that met his expectations. The Dutch businessman invested five years in the development of his yacht, which had to be curved, quiet and offer exceptional sailing comfort. In 2008, the Zeelander Z44 was born.

With the launch of the Zeelander 5 and 8, the shipyard almost doubled the size of its production facility in Groot-Ammers, the Netherlands, at the beginning of 2023 and hired 45 per cent more staff. Zeelander receives strong demand from the USA and the Netherlands.