Heesen Yachts History & Heritage
In 1978, Frans Heesen embarked on a venture that would shape the future of yacht construction. Acquiring the Striker Boats shipyard, situated along a canal south of the Waal River between s’Hertogenbosch and Nijmegen, marked the beginning of a journey dedicated to producing large, high-performance yachts driven by innovation.
The inaugural yacht launched by Heesen in 1979 set a precedent, measuring 28m (92ft) in length, capable of reaching 28 knots, and offering luxurious accommodations for 10 guests – a remarkable feat for its time. Heesen gained international acclaim in 1988 with the delivery of Octopussy, a groundbreaking 38m (125ft) yacht that became the first large vessel to surpass the 50-knot speed barrier.
A pivotal shift in 1992 saw Heesen's focus on long-range superyachts featuring full-displacement steel hulls. Since then, the shipyard's yachts have continued to grow in size and sophistication. Expanding to its current scale in 2008, Heesen now possesses the capacity to construct up to eight superyachts and megayachts annually.
