Van der Valk Takes 28.5m VENERA to Fort Lauderdale Superyacht Village

Van der Valk Shipyard will present the 28.5-metre motor yacht VENERA at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show from 28 October to 1 November 2026. The Dutch yard's representatives will meet visitors aboard the yacht in the Superyacht Village at Pier Sixty-Six, using the appearance to demonstrate its custom-building approach and introduce prospective owners to further concepts.

VENERA is an aluminium fast-displacement explorer-style yacht built at Waalwijk, with an amidships raised pilothouse and exterior styling by Guido de Groot Design. Diana Yacht Design and Ginton Naval Architects were responsible for naval architecture, while twin MAN V12 engines give a stated cruising speed of 17 knots. The yacht accommodates ten guests and is marketed for sale through Splinter Fangman of Edmiston.

Guest spaces designed around cruising

The owner's suite occupies the forward portion of the main deck, a layout that can provide privacy from lower-deck guest cabins while preserving ready access to the principal living areas. The saloon opens directly towards a beach-club area, helping connect indoor hospitality with activities at the water's edge. A jacuzzi and surrounding sunpads support outdoor use during extended stays at anchor.

The arrangement illustrates why a 28-metre custom yacht can offer a distinctive alternative to a larger production vessel. Within a fixed hull length, the placement of the bridge, private accommodation and machinery determines how much space remains for circulation and entertainment. The value of these choices depends on how effectively the crew can service the yacht during everyday operations.

Performance and stabilisation

VENERA has a fast-displacement aluminium hull intended to combine useful cruising speed with relatively substantial living volume. The builder lists a zero-speed gyroscopic stabiliser to improve comfort while stationary, when conventional underway fin systems may not provide the same effect. Equipment effectiveness depends on sea conditions, maintenance and the vessel's displacement.

Owners considering this category should compare fuel consumption and realistic range at the speeds they intend to use rather than relying only on an advertised cruising figure. Noise, machinery access and service logistics become particularly important when longer itineraries are planned. A boat-show inspection is a starting point for technical due diligence, not a substitute for sea trials and survey.

Project NEXO accompanies the presentation

Van der Valk will also discuss Project NEXO, a separate 30-metre custom concept developed with Dutch studio Phathom. The design proposes a dual-level beach club, a platform at the bow that can be raised and extensive living areas opening to the sea on three sides. It is presented as a concept for owners seeking more flexible relationships between interior and exterior space.

An exploratory concept should not be described as a delivered yacht or a confirmed production order. Detailed structural arrangements, equipment, regulations and final dimensions would need to be resolved with a client before construction. The inclusion of NEXO at the show nevertheless demonstrates how the builder uses design studies to begin conversations about owner priorities.

The Dutch yard's custom focus

Van der Valk specialises in custom motor yachts broadly between 25 and 50 metres, building around specific briefs rather than a fixed interior formula. This approach requires early involvement from naval architects, interior designers, systems engineers and the owner team. Agreement on operating mission and guest use can prevent expensive changes later in construction.

The yard's appearance at Fort Lauderdale provides a North American forum for discussing both an available completed yacht and future newbuild opportunities. Visitors can assess VENERA's actual proportions while using the NEXO drawings to consider design choices not yet fixed in steel or aluminium.

What buyers can verify in Fort Lauderdale

Interested visitors should arrange appointments and confirm access directly with the shipyard or broker, particularly during busy show days. Inspection should focus on accommodation ergonomics, machinery documentation, service history and the practical use of guest decks. Published photographs and dimensional figures cannot establish the condition of every installed component.

The October announcement is therefore a forward-looking exhibition and sales update, not news of a yacht launch or transaction. The relevant confirmed facts are VENERA's planned appearance, the builder's attendance and the separate presentation of Project NEXO.