Balk Shipyard has a unique lifting system that can haul yachts up to 1,000 tonnes out of the water and transport them securely around the yard and into one of the three construction halls. The shipyard is an hour’s drive from Amsterdam and just 20 minutes from Lelystad Airport, making it easy for owners and their representatives to visit. Balk Shipyard is also perfectly accessible by boat.

When Balk Shipyard first opened its doors over 225 years ago, it was a traditional fishing vessel builder. The company later changed course to steel and aluminium barges and small yachts in the 1990s before focusing on building and refitting superyachts a few years later.

In 2002, Balk Shipyard was granted an exclusive Royal Seal of Approval, symbolising the confidence that the Dutch Royal family has in the company. The fast-growing yard needed to expand from its original facilities in Elburg, the Netherlands, to the picturesque harbour town of Urk in 2004.

Balk Shipyard has decades of experience in refitting and rebuilding superyachts and is recognised as a true refit specialist. Owners choose Balk Shipyard for its no-nonsense approach, quality and excellent craftsmanship.

Undertaking a refit or rebuild requires a mindset that is completely different from building a new yacht. With Balk Shipyard’s team of experienced project managers, extensive know-how and the trust of its clients, the yard is capable of creating the unimaginable.

Balk Shipyard could be a strategic stop for a refit or maintenance when travelling to Northern Europe or when the course is set from north to south.

Yachts such as EMERALD, DANCING HARE, EXPLORA, SANDALPHON, BRAVADO, CARYALI, and MIKHAIL S. VORONTSOV have all turned into the best versions of themselves thanks to Balk Shipyard.