It was a year of some extraordinary launches and deliveries for Feadship. Simultaneously, it was a milestone year for the Dutch company, its 75th anniversary. As Feadship’s Diamond Jubilee comes to a close, it’s put together a remarkable look at its remarkable history.
The First Export Association of Dutch SHIPbuilders—a.k.a. Feadship—started as a cooperative venture among several companies. It was 1949, the aftermath of World War II, which had a devastating effect on the Dutch boat-building market. Therefore, the companies—specifically, six builders and one naval-architecture studio—decided to try marketing to Americans.
Although only two of the six initial builders are still around, they have always operated under the Feadship brand. Namely, Royal De Vries and Royal Van Lent are responsible for a wide variety of projects. In 2024 alone, for instance, the deliveries include superyachts like Ulysses, Promise.D, Drizzle, B, and Alvia. They further include the yacht Launchpad, the largest Feadship yet. LOA: 387 feet (118 meters).
Then there are the noteworthy deliveries of decades past. Fifty-one years ago, for example, Henry Ford II, the head of the Ford Motor Company, took delivery of Santa Maria. The 108-footer (33-meter), the most expensive Feadship of her era, is still around today, too.
Ultimately, Feadship’s Diamond Jubilee doesn’t just celebrate the shipyards and their deliveries. Rather, it focuses strongly on the people who made it all possible, from customers to craftspeople. In fact, you’ll hear the voice of the late Malcolm Forbes, who commissioned one of the most renowned Feadships, The Highlander. The yacht entertained several of Forbes’ magazine clients every week the weather permitted in New York City for years.
You can hear further owners’ commentary on what made their experiences so special in the full-length video. (Due to its privacy settings, it cannot be displayed here.) Take note of the scenes of the woodworkers, welders, and other craftspeople at work. As the video rightfully explains, while technology has evolved in leaps and bounds, these hand-crafted basics haven’t changed.
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