Hakvoort Shipyard receives Royal Designation
14 November 2020
Hakvoort Shipyard in the Netherlands has been awarded the designation Royal by His Highness King Willem Alexander to mark a century of service.
This rare and prestigious award was presented to the shipyard by Arthur van Dijk, the King’s Commissioner for North Holland, on Friday 13 November 2020 in a small-scale ceremony that respected social distancing rules.
Being granted the right to be called ‘Royal’ is a landmark achievement for the Monnickendam yard, which has been in the hands of the Hakvoort family since 1919. The company’s 100-year history has seen a steady and healthy growth based on its own equity. Setbacks have been transformed into new opportunities. Continuous investments have ensured the ongoing modernisation of the yard.
To qualify for the title Royal in the Netherlands, a company must meet certain strict criteria. They need to be a leading exponent of the business sector concerned, a firm of national importance and serve a major function within the community. The ‘Royal’ designation is also only granted to companies that have been active in the same business segment and within the same family for 100 years or more. The character and record of the management are carefully scrutinised so this extremely rare award is seen as the definitive recognition of a company’s good standing and reputation.
An enormous compliment
“We are extremely proud to have received the ‘Royal’ designation,” commented the Hakvoort brothers, Klaas and Albert. “This crowns the work of current and previous generations, which has always been driven by entrepreneurship and passion. It is also an enormous compliment to all our staff and sub-contractors who have been working with this family yard for years. Their efforts and craftsmanship made our success possible. We would also like to thank all our clients and their representatives for the faith they have shown in us. This milestone moment is a huge encouragement for the future.”
“As Mayor of the municipality of Waterland I am proud of Hakvoort Shipyard receiving this designation,” added Mayor Sicko Heldoorn. “The yard has been rooted in our community for over 100 years and made a significant contribution to the employment and economy of the entire Waterland region.”
Reliability and innovation
The Hakvoort yard was established in 1919. The expansion of the construction halls and the building of larger superyachts under the leadership of the fourth generation of the family has created a solid foundation for a healthy future. Hakvoort manufactures high-end luxury yachts that are renowned for their craftsmanship and quality. The foundation for every build is typical Dutch reliability, complemented by innovation and new technologies. These are just some of the reasons why clients from around the world have their vessels built at Hakvoort. Over the past century, the company has transformed from a repair yard to a leading yachtbuilder with a first-class reputation for reliability and quality.
