What Balk Shipyard does

Balk Shipyard is a privately held Dutch superyacht shipyard founded in 1798 and headquartered in Urk, the Netherlands. The company specializes in survey, refit, rebuild, and new build services for motor and sailing yachts typically between 30 and 65 meters, employing 51-100 people. From a 10,000+ square meter facility featuring three climate-controlled construction halls, berths for up to seven yachts, dedicated crew housing in nearby Kampen and Elburg, and a unique 1,000-ton internal lifting and rail system, Balk handles complex renewal projects that eliminate the need for external travel lifts or gantry cranes.

The service portfolio spans Yacht Survey (class-certified inspections), Yacht Refit (routine maintenance and modernization), Yacht Rebuild (structural modifications, hull extensions, diesel-electric propulsion upgrades, dynamic positioning, and CFD-optimized hull design), New Build (custom sailing and motor yacht construction), and Superyacht Construction (fabricating aluminium superstructures for other shipyards worldwide). Its proprietary "ReCraftsmanship" methodology positions yacht renewal as faster, more sustainable, and more cost-efficient than new construction. Revenue is generated entirely through project-based, custom-quoted contracts; pricing is not publicly disclosed and each engagement is tailored to vessel size, scope, and complexity, with multi-year contract cadences for major rebuilds.

Balk serves private superyacht owners, yacht captains, owner's representatives and project managers, and yacht brokers through a direct-to-consumer model. Two senior specialists, Wouter van Rijn and Gerwin Bakker, each with 25+ years of experience from Dutch yards such as Jongert, Claasen, and Vitters, lead client engagement, supplemented by annual METSTRADE presence in Amsterdam. Distribution is exclusively direct at the Urk facility. Notable projects include the 64.52m sailing yacht Mikhail S. Vorontsov (2013 delivery, World Superyacht Award 2014), the Ursus rebuild (extended from 24m to 30.36m over approximately 18 months), the 44.25m Yemaya new build (delivery 2026), and sub-contracted aluminium superstructure work for Feadship (2023) and Burger Boat Company. The current CEO is Evan Kortmann.

Name

Balk Shipyard

Legal name

Balk Shipyard

Website

https://balkshipyard.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1798

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Balk Shipyard is a privately held Dutch shipyard, founded 1798 in Urk, that specializes in survey, refit, rebuild, and new build services for 30-65 meter motor and sailing yachts, also fabricating aluminium superstructures for other global shipyards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Superyacht Refit & Rebuild Services

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Boat Building (336612)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Custom Superyacht & Megayacht Manufacturing (IMAJAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dry Docking & Hull Steelwork Repair (IMAJAFAA), Hull, Structure & Steelwork Repair (TLAKAKAE), Yard Layout & Production Facilities (Assembly Bays, Block Fabrication Shops, Warehouses) (IMAJALAG)

Keywords

• Superyacht refit services
• Superyacht rebuild services
• Yacht survey services
• Superyacht new build
• Yacht construction superstructures

Headquarters

HQ city

Urk

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Yacht Survey Services: Comprehensive class-certified inspections for motor and sailing yachts between 30-65 meters, including survey planning, coordination with classification societies, and detailed reporting
2. Yacht Refit Services: Refurbishment and modernization services including routine maintenance, system overhauls, interior/exterior updates, and performance enhancements for superyachts
3. Yacht Rebuild Services: Complete reconstruction projects including hull extensions, structural modifications, complete redesigns, and transformation of existing vessels into modern superyachts
4. Yacht Construction Services: Aluminium superstructure construction for other shipyards worldwide, including engineering, fabrication, welding, and transport to customer facilities
5. New Build Yacht Construction: Complete new build projects from design through delivery, including sailing yachts and motor yachts

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Balk Shipyard is a Royal Dutch superyacht shipyard that provides survey, refit, rebuild, and new-build services for motor and sailing yachts between 30 and 65 meters at its Urk, Netherlands facility. It also builds aluminium superstructures and hull sections that are shipped to other shipyards worldwide (including Feadship and Burger Boat Company). All work is supported by a unique 1,000-ton in-house lifting system, climate-controlled construction halls, and a rail network that allows yachts to be moved from water into indoor halls for year-round work.

Product overview

Balk Shipyard operates as a Royal Dutch superyacht shipyard offering an integrated portfolio of services for yachts between 30 and 65 meters. The core offerings encompass four interconnected service lines: Yacht Survey (inspection and assessment), Yacht Refit (modernization and upgrades), Yacht Rebuild (complete reconstruction with structural modifications), and New Build (custom construction). Additionally, the shipyard provides Superyacht Construction services building superstructures for global shipyard partners. The ReCraftsmanship methodology ties all services together, combining traditional Dutch craftsmanship with modern engineering to extend yacht lifespan while updating to contemporary technical and environmental standards. The company maintains state-of-the-art facilities in Urk, The Netherlands, including heated halls, a 1000-ton lifting system, and crew housing amenities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Yacht Survey Professional survey and inspection services for superyachts between 30 and 65 meters, including condition assessments, pre-purchase inspections, and coordination with classification societies; intended for yacht owners, captains, and owner's representatives needing class-certified reports.
• Yacht Refit Comprehensive refit services for motor and sailing superyachts including routine maintenance, system upgrades, interior refreshes, and complete overhauls; works on all hull materials including steel, aluminium, wood, and composite; targeted at private owners and captains modernizing vessels between 30 and 65 meters.
• Yacht Rebuild Complete rebuild and restoration services for superyachts, including hull extensions, structural modifications, and full transformations, with advanced technical upgrades such as diesel-electric propulsion systems, dynamic positioning, and modern navigation; aimed at owners seeking to extend, modernize, or fundamentally transform existing vessels between 30 and 65 meters.
• New Build Yacht Construction Custom new yacht construction for sailing yachts and motor yachts from 30 to 65 meters, including complete engineering, aluminium construction, and installation of systems; targeted at owners commissioning fully bespoke superyachts, exemplified by the 64.52m Mikhail S. Vorontsov.
• Superyacht Construction for Other Shipyards Engineering, fabrication, welding, and transport of aluminium superstructures and hull sections for other superyacht shipyards worldwide, including yachts over 50 meters; structures (e.g., 37-tonne / 38m x 10m and 23-tonne / 17m x 15m) are built in the Netherlands and shipped to partner shipyards in North America and Northern Europe for final completion.

Quantifiable outcome

• Yacht lifespan extended to decades with modern systems and compliance
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and notable.

• Mulder DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Naval architect and yacht designer Bas Mulder collaborated with Balk Shipyard on the Ursus rebuild project, providing exterior redesign including beach club and seating area integration. The partnership combined Mulder Design's innovation with Balk's engineering and craftsmanship for a complex 24m to 30m extension project. CFD calculations were used to optimize hull extensions for improved seakeeping.
• Burger Boat CompanynotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican yacht builder commissioned Balk Shipyard to construct a 37-tonne aluminium superstructure (38m x 10m) for a 50M+ motor yacht project. Completed in the Netherlands and shipped to Wisconsin, USA for final completion at Burger's facility.
• FeadshipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBalk Shipyard built aluminium superstructure with steel bulkheads for a Feadship superyacht exceeding 100 meters. The 23-ton structure (17m x 15m) was completed in 2023 and transported to another Northern European shipyard for final assembly.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Damen Yachting: Larger Dutch shipbuilding group encompassing Amels and SeaXplorer. Adjacent to Balk as a broader Dutch shipyard operator with overlapping refit capability at significantly greater scale.
• Feadship: Premier Dutch luxury yacht builder (100m+ class) and Balk's customer for superstructure fabrication. Comparable as a Dutch superyacht builder operating in the same ecosystem, though at significantly larger scale.
• Lürssen: German luxury yacht builder and refitter serving the 100m+ superyacht segment. Comparable as a major European refit facility serving the same UHNWI client pool, though at substantially larger scale and different geographic focus.
• Heesen Yachts: Dutch luxury motor yacht builder with refit and service operations. Comparable to Balk's motor yacht refit business (Balk serviced the Heesen-built Stormborn) and overlapping target customer segment.
• Amels (Damen Yachting): Dutch luxury motor yacht builder with a dedicated refit division under Damen Yachting. Comparable as Balk serviced Amels-built vessels (Dancing Hare, MMM) and operates in the same Northern European superyacht refit market.

Direct peers

• Vitters Shipyard: Dutch specialist in high-performance sailing yachts including new build, refit, and maintenance. Closely comparable to Balk given Gerwin Bakker's prior tenure at Vitters and the shared focus on premium sailing yacht craftsmanship.
• Jongert: Dutch luxury motor yacht builder with a strong refit and service heritage. Directly comparable given Wouter van Rijn's prior tenure and the overlap in the 30-65m premium motor yacht refit market.
• Royal Huisman: Dutch superyacht builder and refitter based in Vollenhove specializing in high-end sailing and motor yachts. Directly comparable to Balk as a heritage Dutch shipyard serving the same 30-65m+ superyacht refit and new-build market.
• Claasen Shipyards: Dutch yacht builder in Zaandam specializing in classic and modern sailing yacht construction and refits. Comparable niche as a heritage Dutch yard serving the sailing yacht market that Balk also targets.

Regional players

• Mondomarine: Italian superyacht builder and refitter based in Savona, specializing in 40-60m motor yacht refits. Comparable service offering to Balk's refit and rebuild business but operating in the Mediterranean market rather than Northern Europe.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/balk-shipyard

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Balk Shipyard