Van der Valk unveils the NEXO concept
Van der Valk Shipyard has revealed Project NEXO, a 30-metre crossover yacht concept developed with Dutch design studio Phathom. Announced on 14 October 2026, the proposal explores how accommodation can change according to the people using the vessel.
NEXO is a custom-design proposal rather than a newly delivered yacht or a standard production model. The yard intends it as a starting point for discussions with owners seeking an individual build.
The meaning of crossover
The name refers to New Experience X-Over and signals a move away from fixed-purpose rooms. Instead, the concept seeks to combine relaxation, entertaining and active pursuits without requiring a separate enclosed room for every activity.
The designers have focused on how people move between interior and exterior spaces. This approach aims to make the yacht feel open to its marine surroundings.
A two-level beach club
At the stern, a dual-level beach club forms a prominent leisure area, with a central hot tub and side terraces that open towards the water. A hydraulic swim platform provides access closer to the sea.
The arrangement encourages swimming, entertaining and relaxed social time. As a concept, individual technical details may change before any contract for construction is signed.
Tender storage beneath the deck
A concealed garage is intended to house a tender and watersports equipment below the beach club. The design keeps the principal deck clear when the equipment is not in use.
This separation can make the guest spaces more practical during a day at anchor. The final capacity and handling machinery would depend on the owner's specific requirements.
A transformable foredeck
The proposal features a lifting bow platform that can be adapted for sunbathing, fitness or outdoor cinema. A screen can rise for an evening film while the deck returns to other uses during the day.
The idea is to make one area perform several functions rather than dedicate extensive space to a single activity. The concept has not been advertised as an existing feature on a completed vessel.
A saloon that opens to the sea
The main-deck saloon is designed to open aft and along both sides, connecting with side terraces. A sliding bar can change its position for different occasions, while a rotating sofa extends the lounge towards the outside.
This brings guests closer to sea views and natural airflow. The flexible furniture arrangements are among the yacht's defining design ideas.
A forward owner's suite
The full-beam owner's suite occupies the forward part of the main deck, with an integrated bathroom and views towards the water. Natural light and an uncluttered interior are intended to shape the atmosphere.
The suite is designed as an essential part of the onboard experience rather than a room isolated from the surrounding landscape. Privacy and the final plan would be tailored for the commissioning owner.
An adaptable upper lounge
The upper-deck lounge can be configured as a dining area, wellness facility or gym. Its arrangement is intended to respond to how an owner prefers to spend time at sea.
This flexibility allows different buyers to interpret the concept in their own way. There is no suggestion that every possible installation would be included in one final yacht.
Materials and wellbeing
Phathom's interior concept emphasises stone, linen, leather and organic textures, with planting and natural references used to soften the spaces. The design team describes wellness as an architectural experience rather than simply the provision of a spa.
The intention is to make movement, daylight and a connection to water central to the yacht. These design goals should be understood as part of the concept presentation, not as a tested clinical wellness outcome.
Custom development remains the next step
Van der Valk builds yachts to owner specification, and the yard is inviting conversations about how Project NEXO could be developed. The design demonstrates possibilities at around thirty metres rather than a fixed arrangement with an announced delivery date.
The October announcement gives owners and designers an opportunity to explore a distinctive custom yacht, but no launch, construction start or sale contract has been confirmed. Any eventual build would be tailored to its commissioning owner.
