Heesen Enters a Bold New Era in 2026
- Mar 13
- 3 min read
As the Chinese New Year ushered in the Year of the Fire Horse, 2026 has begun at full gallop for Dutch superyacht builder Heesen Yachts. Fresh from its acquisition last year by entrepreneur Laurens Last, the shipyard enters the year with renewed momentum and three yachts poised to hit the water in 2026.
Jeroen van der Meer, CEO of Heesen Yachts, commented: “If 2025 was about transformation and securing our foundation under Laurens Last, 2026 is about action. The Fire Horse embodies the drive and passion we see in our workforce every day.”
The first half of the year will see a series of major construction milestones take place at the shipyard. In January, the hull and superstructure of 57m Project Evita were successfully joined. This will be followed by 50m Project Sophia’s departure from the outfitting shed and the launch of 57m Project Setteesettanta.
Momentum will continue throughout the year, with Project Angelica scheduled for launch in October. Part of Heesen’s successful 55-metre Steel Series, the yacht was sold at the end of 2024 with her new owner now finalising the yacht’s interior design features with Luca Dini Design & Architecture. In total, 162 linear metres and 2,179 gross tons of superyacht are scheduled to be delivered by Heesen in 2026.
The shipyard will also continue to build on its new ‘client centric’ approach, which was introduced
under the new ownership last year. Focusing on showcasing the Heesen fleet on the water, the year will start in the spring at the Palm Beach International Boat Show followed by the Dubai International Boat Show, Monaco Yacht Show, Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and Qatar Boat Show.
With a robust order book and a revitalised strategic vision, Heesen enters 2026 ready to redefine the standards of the 50 to 70-metre superyacht market. The year promises exciting announcements of forthcoming designs, offering a first glimpse of the shipyard’s bold vision for the future, while continuing to deliver exceptional Dutch craftsmanship and cutting-edge innovation.
Yachts to be Launched in 2026:
55-metre – Project Frida (Q1 2026)
Project Frida is the latest iteration of Heesen’s 55-metre Steel series. Featuring a clean and crisp exterior styling, Frida takes on a muscular yet elegant design, striking the perfect balance between being large enough to offer the luxury expected from a superyacht but compact enough to access charming Mediterranean ports. Frida’s interior, designed by Luca Dini Design & Architecture, offers a contemporary take on classic yacht design. The interior palette combines light, neutral tones, with rich mahogany wood and dark brown accents. Frida accommodates up to twelve guests across six staterooms, including an impressive 86-square-metre owner’s suite on the main deck. The yacht also provides accommodation for 13 crew members, ensuring exceptional service on board.
50-metre - Project Sophia (Q2 2026)
Sophia is the fourth hull in Heesen’s 50-metre class. At 50-metres and below 500 GT, Sophia is an all-aluminium, fast-cruising yacht powered by green ocean engines. Heesen’s 50-metre fast-cruising class is the first of its kind below 500 GT to comply with IMO Tier-III regulations. A curvy, sporty exterior design by Omega Architects complements Sophia’s performance and crisp design features. Heesen’s optimised, low-drag hull design with a reduced transom depth allows for a shallow shaft angle. This makes Sophia comfortable in rough seas yet perfect for cruising shallow waters. The ultra-efficient hull shape delivers on engineering and adventure, meaning Sophia is ideal for both island hopping and longer passages. Sophia is the fourth sister ship in this impressive class. Its elevated aft deck holds large sunpads, which is accessed via three steps up. It’s this subtle design feature that allows for a full height multi-purpose tender garage-cum-luxury beach club on the lower deck, with plenty of head room. Another key exterior feature is the downward pointing bow. This provides a good line of sight to the water from the bridge, and helps to accentuate Sophia’s long, sleek profile.
57-metre – Project Setteesettanta (Q3 2026)
Heesen’s Project Setteesettanta is a 57-metre fast displacement superyacht, scheduled to launch in Q1 2026. This yacht is the first Heesen to feature a bridge on the fourth deck, maintaining the sleek appearance characteristic of the yard with innovative design elements, including an unobtrusive mast and new flat Star Link communication panels.
55-metre – Project Angelica
Project Angelica is the newest addition to Heesen Yachts’ acclaimed 55-metre Steel series. It features an expansive internal volume, with an interior that spans nearly 400 square metres, able to accommodate up to 12 guests. The yacht’s Fast Displacement Hull Form reduces fuel consumption by up to 30 percent, while providing comfort at sea and delivering high performance, able to reach a top speed of 15.5 knots.
