Holland Jachtbouw

Holland Jachtbouw originated in 1990 when Chris Gongriep established a shipyard called De Hemmes. The business began with lemsteraken, traditional Dutch wooden workboats associated with Lemmer. This initial specialization gave the yard a connection to established regional craftsmanship and to the construction of sailing vessels with practical, traditional forms. The company later changed direction toward larger and more technically complex sailing yachts. In 1998, Holland Jachtbouw acquired Dutch Built, the newbuild-management company founded by naval architect André Hoek. The transaction was important because it supported the yard's move into aluminium sailing yachts and created a closer working relationship between Gongriep's construction operation and Hoek's design and project-management expertise. The available source describes Hoek as cooperating closely with Gongriep after the acquisition. This transition positioned Holland Jachtbouw in the custom large-sailing-yacht segment. Rather than concentrating on standardized production, the yard pursued individually commissioned vessels that required specialized design, engineering, construction, and coordination. Its work therefore reflected a combination of Dutch shipbuilding skills, custom naval architecture, and project management for large yacht programs. The most prominent documented result of this period was Athos, a two-masted schooner completed in 2010. The vessel was characterized in the source material as the largest two-masted schooner in history. Its completion represented the scale and ambition of the yard's later work and became the clearest public example of its large-yacht specialization. Holland Jachtbouw also invested in its physical production capacity. The yard completed a new building shed measuring 12,000 square metres, providing space suited to the construction of large yachts. The available material does not specify the exact completion date of the facility or provide a full list of vessels built there. Chris Gongriep died on 9 December 2016. The reference material states that his death was a suicide, but this biographical fact is not treated here as a brand scandal because no business misconduct or scandal is documented in the cited material. Afterward, Holland Jachtbouw's new facilities were rented to Royal Huisman, another Dutch yachtbuilder. The rental arrangement is the last major operational development described in the supplied reference. Because the source does not clarify whether the Holland Jachtbouw brand remained active, was formally closed, or continued under another structure, the company's current status remains unknown. The documented history presents Holland Jachtbouw as a specialist Dutch sailing-yacht builder that evolved from traditional wooden craft into large custom aluminium yachts. Its principal historical milestones were the 1990 founding, the 1998 acquisition of Dutch Built, the 2010 completion of Athos, and the post-2016 use of its expanded facilities by Royal Huisman.

• 2016

  Facilities are subsequently rented to Royal Huisman

  [1]Holland Jachtbouwen.wikipedia.org

  Following Chris Gongriep's death, the shipyard's newly built facilities are rented to fellow Dutch yachtbuilder Royal Huisman.

• 2010

  Athos is completed

  [1]Holland Jachtbouwen.wikipedia.org

  The yard completes Athos, a large two-masted schooner described as the largest vessel of its type in the reference material.

• 1998

  Dutch Built is acquired

  [1]Holland Jachtbouwen.wikipedia.org

  Holland Jachtbouw acquires André Hoek's Dutch Built newbuild-management company, supporting the yard's move toward aluminium sailing yachts.

• 1990

  De Hemmes is established

  [1]Holland Jachtbouwen.wikipedia.org

  Chris Gongriep establishes the shipyard under the name De Hemmes, initially building lemsteraken and other traditional wooden craft.

• A 12,000-square-metre building shed is completed

  [1]Holland Jachtbouwen.wikipedia.org

  Holland Jachtbouw expands its facilities with a new building shed intended for large-yacht construction.

A specialist Dutch shipyard for large, custom-built sailing yachts, combining traditional boatbuilding heritage with aluminium construction and complex newbuild management.

• Traditional wooden sailing and workboats · 1990

  Lemsteraken

  Lemsteraken were the shipyard's initial area of work after its establishment as De Hemmes in 1990. They are a traditional Dutch boat type associated with Lemmer and provided the company's early foundation in wooden craft construction before its later move toward larger aluminium sailing yachts.

• Large sailing yacht and two-masted schooner · 2010

  Athos

  Athos is the best-known documented yacht associated with Holland Jachtbouw. Completed in 2010, it is a large two-masted schooner and was described in the source material as the largest two-masted schooner in history. The project represents the yard's later focus on bespoke, large-scale sailing yachts.

• Custom sailing yachts · 1998

  Custom aluminium sailing yachts

  Following the 1998 acquisition of Dutch Built, Holland Jachtbouw shifted toward aluminium sailing yachts. These projects formed the core of the yard's later positioning as a specialist builder of large, individually commissioned sailing vessels rather than a mass-market boat manufacturer.

• 1998

  Acquisition of Dutch BuiltM&A

  Background

  Holland Jachtbouw sought to move beyond its early work with traditional wooden craft and develop a position in aluminium sailing yachts.

  Action taken

  The shipyard acquired Dutch Built, the newbuild-management company of naval architect André Hoek, and subsequently worked closely with Hoek.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition supported Holland Jachtbouw's transition into large custom aluminium sailing yachts and contributed to the development of projects such as Athos.

  Source

• Expansion of large-yacht construction capacityStrategy

  Background

  The yard's focus on large sailing yachts required more substantial production infrastructure.

  Action taken

  Holland Jachtbouw completed a new 12,000-square-metre building shed.

  Aftermath

  After Chris Gongriep's death in 2016, the expanded facilities were subsequently rented to Royal Huisman. The source does not clarify the continuing status of Holland Jachtbouw as an operating brand.

  Source

1. 1Holland Jachtbouwen.wikipedia.org