29m Belle de Jour arrives at Balk Shipyard for refit
Belle de Jour, the 29-metre Dutch-built yacht, has arrived at Balk Shipyard for a scheduled programme of works ahead of the summer Mediterranean season.
Built east of Amsterdam in the historically rich town of Nijkerk, the yacht was brought to life by Holland Jachtbouw in 2013. She has been meticulously looked after, and this forthcoming refit with Balk Shipyard will cover key technical maintenance and aesthetic work – all while preserving her pedigree.
Her birthplace is significant. With a maritime history dating back to the 15th century, Nijkerk’s shipbuilding tradition has been passed down from generation to generation. This depth of knowledge and maritime heritage is evident in the quality of Belle de Jour‘s build.
The flagship of the locally renowned shipyard with more than 35 years of expertise, Belle de Jour is part of a fleet that includes both sailing and motor yachts built to designs by celebrated names such as Diana Yacht Design and Lnyx Yachts.
Belle de Jour herself was conceived by the late Pieter Beeldsnijder, a true Dutch legend who designed an incredible 2,500 vessels during his life, including five International Superyacht Society award-winning Royal Huisman sailing yachts, numerous Feadship motor yachts, and a Royal-commissioned 15-metre sailing yacht, gifted from the Dutch people to the then-Princess Beatrix for her 18th birthday.
Pieter Beeldsnijder opted for long powerful exterior lines, closed bulwarks, and a large freeboard when designing Belle de Jour. Her general arrangement ingeniously maximises space, and it’s remarkable that she achieves 140 GT of interior volume. Her clever layout and design create the impression of a much larger vessel.
“Every vessel has a story worth preserving,” Evan Kortmann of Balk Shipyard. “Our primary role as a refit and ReCraft specialist is to ensure vessels are primed for their next chapter, while honouring those that came before. Belle de Jour represents precisely the Dutch excellence we’re committed to stewarding.”
Thirteen years after her launch, Belle de Jour‘s return to a Dutch yard reflects the enduring understanding of vessels conceived and built within this maritime tradition. Now in the skilled hands of Balk Shipyard, Belle de Jour will undergo her refit with the same attention to Dutch design principles and build quality that has defined her since launch.
Balk Shipyard will work closely with Flavo Jachtbouw on this refit and will return Belle de Jour to her owners later this year.
