When Cees van Lent first sketched the lines in the 1960s for a gentleman’s motoryacht, he could hardly have imagined that his design would lie dormant for over fifty years. Now in 2024, the 175th anniversary of Royal Van Lent Shipyard, this iconic design sees the light of day once more as the Feadship New Classic—a vessel that captures generations of craftsmanship, heritage and innovation.
“When thinking about how to celebrate our 175th anniversary, we wanted to honor our heritage in a way that truly reflected Cees’ spirit— creative, forward-thinking, and full of character. So, we turned to the treasures of our archive, where decades of history are tucked away. There, we uncovered something remarkable: a beautiful design by Cees that had never been built. Inspired by its timeless elegance and charm, we decided to breathe new life into it, transforming his vision into reality. It’s our way of celebrating the past while bringing it into the present.”
— Jan-Bart Verkuyl, Feadship director CEO Royal Van Lent Shipyard
Long before the Feadship name became synonymous with luxury yachts, the Van Lent family had already been quietly mastering the art of shipbuilding. It all began in 1849, when a young ship’s carpenter, Hein Akerboom, started crafting flat-bottomed boats in Lisse, a small Dutch town known for its flower fields. But by the time his sons, Big Jan and Little Jan, took the helm, the shipyard began moving toward something grander— something more luxurious.
It was in 1917 that Cees van Lent married into the Akerboom family and transformed the sleepy Kaag Island shipyard into a hub for building motorboats and yachts. “When I first arrived on Kaag Island,” Cees later recalled, “grass was growing on the wharf, and the yard was hardly more than a shed.” But from these humble beginnings, something extraordinary would grow.
In line with our long-standing tradition of nurturing craftsmanship, these yachts would not only be crafted with precision but would also carry forward the apprenticeship program that has been a hallmark of our legacy. Just as we have always done, we will continue to educate and train the next generation of craftsmen, ensuring that each new classic is built with the same dedication and expertise that has de- fined Feadship for over a century and a half.
Nestled in the exact spot where Royal van Lent has been crafting exquisite yachts for 175 years, the yard stands as the oldest yacht building facility in the world. It’s here, amid the rich history of Dutch shipbuilding, that many owners enjoy sailing through the serene Kaag lakes on a heritage Fead- ship. As the boat glides across the water, a glass of rosé in hand on the aft deck, the timeless beauty of the Dutch landscape unfolds, offering a glimpse into centuries of Dutch sailing tradition.
It was during one of these very trips that a Feadship owner, captivated by the elegance of the past, had an idea: to find a yacht from his birth year, a gem from the incredible 1960s, to complement his home on the Miami Intracoastal Waterway. But as he searched, no suitable candidate could be found. That’s when the concept of the new classic was born.
Inspired by the beauty and craftsmanship of the past, the owner envisioned a modernized classic dayboat—a yacht built with the same meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship that Feadship is known for, yet capable of reaching speeds over 20 knots. As the idea took shape, conversations with other owners revealed a shared passion for the concept. There was a genuine love for a yacht that blended the best of classic design with the performance and innovation of today.
“When owners come to the shipyard we often take them on a trip around the water-ways of Kaag aboard a boat from the Feadship Heritage Fleet. A lot of our clients really enjoy these old boats and the history behind them. In fact, the whole idea for the New Classic began when one of our owners who has a home in Miami wanted to restore an old Feadship to keep as a dayboat for cruising the Intercoastal Waterway.”
— Jan-Bart Verkuyl
In recreating the new classic, we took great care in studying the yachts built in the 1960s to ensure we stayed true to the essence of that iconic era. Our goal was not just to capture the spirit of those timeless vessels, but to craft an authentic gem that honored the design and craftsmanship of the past. To do so, we turned to the work of Cees van Lent, whose iconic lines and attention to detail defined a generation of yachts. Studio De Voogt, drawing on this rich heritage, meticulously recreated those lines, blending the elegance and grace of the 1960s with the latest in modern technology. The result is a yacht that feels both nostalgic and forward- thinking, a seamless tribute to the past while embracing the future of yachting.
Classic inspiration
A classic yacht for the contemporary era
Although on the outside the all-aluminium, the 23.95-metre motorcruiser is remarkably faithful to the original design—note the traditional tumblehome in her transom—her performance and interior comforts are thoroughly modern and have been brought up to date in line with the expectations of today’s owners.
The underwater lines have been optimised to take the latest Volvo Penta IPS drives that provide a top speed of up to 20+ knots and user-friendly joystick controls, ideal for owner-operators (a hybrid-electric package offering features such as assisted docking in Electric Mode is also envisaged). Moreover, with the compact propulsion pods mounted under the hull, more interior volume is freed up for guest use during weekend cruising.
The open-air helm station on the flydeck along with a pantry, sofa seating and dining table is protected by an integrated bimini top. Between the wrap-around seating on the main deck aft is a door- way in the bulwark that leads down to a slide-out swim platform. Under the deck is storage space for water toys and other gear.
Jan-Bart VerkuylWe all share a passion for yachts at Feadship, and what started as a bijou project for one person grew, into something much larger.
The Feadship New Classic features a cosy raised saloon amidships. On a lower-level forward is the galley and facing dining table with a generous master suite in the bow, complete with an opening overhead skylight. Aft of the saloon are two ensuite guest cabins (a crew berth is located under the saloon). The wood-panelled interior and teak sole are combined with fresh fabrics and crisp detailing for a classic-contemporary feel.
As no more than six units will be built, the Feadship New Classic is destined to become a sought-after classic of its own. And if demand continues, Feadship can always return to its treasure trove of never-built designs to bring to life another captivating creation from the past.
