Leon Bekkers
Leon Bekkers is the founder of Bekkers Yachts. He spent years supplying stainless steel work to the most luxurious superyacht builders in the Netherlands and Germany, and he now applies those same standards to aluminium day yachts and weekenders of 40 to 60 ft. Every yacht is hand-built at the yard in Heusden, in the south of the Netherlands.
From superyacht stainless steel to his own yachts
Before there was a Bekkers yacht, there was Bekkers stainless steel. Leon built his reputation as a supplier of stainless steel fittings and metalwork to leading Dutch superyacht yards, and to builders in Germany. Motor Boat & Yachting describes stainless steel fittings for leading Dutch superyacht yards as his main business.
That is demanding work. On a superyacht, stainless steel is everywhere the owner looks and touches: handrails, stanchions, deck hardware, helm details. It has to be flawless, because the rest of the yacht is flawless. Tolerances are tight, finishes are inspected closely and nothing visible may look improvised.
Years of working to that standard shaped how Leon looks at boats. He knows what it takes to make metal look effortless. He also knows how rarely that level of finish reaches yachts in the 40 to 60 ft range.
Why he started building day yachts
The idea behind Bekkers Yachts is simple. Take the quality of a superyacht and scale it down to a dayboat and weekender that an owner can actually use every weekend.
Most yachts in this size range are built in series from fibreglass moulds. That is efficient, but it limits what an owner can change. Leon wanted to build differently: in aluminium, by hand, one yacht at a time. That is where the philosophy comes from:
- No mass production. Each yacht is built for its owner.
- No fibreglass hull. Every hull is aluminium, the material used across much of the superyacht world.
- No restrictions. Paint to sample in any colour combination, and interior materials on request.
The result is captured in the tagline "Built for the exceptional".
What his background means on board
You can see the stainless steel heritage in the details. When Motor Boat & Yachting took a first look at the AZUR 45, the reviewers called the fit and finish exceptional for a 45-footer. They noted that there were no visible weld marks. They also pointed out details such as stainless cupholders with a phone slot and a leather-wrapped rectangular stainless steering wheel.
Those are small things. But they are exactly the things a superyacht metalworker cares about, and exactly the things that are usually simplified on a production boat. A YouTube tour of the yacht went out under the title "The coolest boat you've never heard of", which says something about how quietly the yard has worked so far.
The team around Leon
Leon does not build these yachts alone. He has brought together specialists who know the superyacht world from the inside.
| Role | Partner |
|---|---|
| Exterior design (whole range) | René van der Velden, award-winning superyacht designer |
| Hull engineering | Navyk |
| Naval architecture, Carib 64HT | Wijk Yacht Design |
| Advisor | Emile Bilterijst, former director of superyacht builder Moonen Yachts |
René van der Velden
René van der Velden is an award-winning superyacht designer. He shaped the exterior lines of the Bekkers range, from the AZUR 45 to the Carib 64HT flagship. The low, clean profile and the aluminium hardtop of the AZUR 45HT are his work.
Navyk
The hull is a hard chine design rated CE / RCD category B. Hull engineering is by Navyk.
Wijk Yacht Design
For the Carib 64HT, an 18.7 m family weekender with three cabins and three bathrooms, the naval architecture is by Wijk Yacht Design.
Emile Bilterijst
Emile Bilterijst is the former director of Moonen Yachts, a Dutch superyacht builder. As advisor, he brings experience of running a yard that builds to the highest standard.
How Leon works with owners
Leon stays close to every build. Owners speak with the people who build their yacht, not with a sales layer in between. The yard replies personally within one working day, and owners can reach Leon directly.
Sea trials take place at the yard in Heusden. Leon and the team also meet owners at events: in 2026 they were at the Cannes Yachting Festival on 10 and 11 September for private meetings.
After delivery, the relationship continues. The yard offers worldwide service and aftersales and thinks along with owners on maintenance, servicing and storage.
Visit the yard
The best way to understand Leon's approach is to see a yacht in build. The yard is at Industrieweg 12B, 5158 NJ Heusden, in the village of Heusden.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Leon Bekkers?
Leon Bekkers is the founder of Bekkers Yachts, a Dutch builder of hand-built aluminium day yachts and weekenders. Before starting the yard, he was a key supplier of stainless steel work to luxury superyacht builders in the Netherlands and Germany.
What was Leon Bekkers' background before Bekkers Yachts?
His main business was stainless steel fittings for leading Dutch superyacht yards. That work required a superyacht level of finish, which he now applies to yachts of 40 to 60 ft.
Why does Bekkers Yachts build in aluminium?
Leon chose aluminium and hand-building over fibreglass series production. It allows each yacht to be built for its owner without the limits of a mould, in line with the philosophy of no mass production, no fibreglass hull and no restrictions.
Who designs Bekkers yachts?
The exterior design is by René van der Velden, an award-winning superyacht designer. Naval architecture of the Carib 64HT is by Wijk Yacht Design, and hull engineering of the AZUR 45 by Navyk.
Can I speak to Leon Bekkers directly?
Yes. Leon can be reached on +31 (0)6 49 38 67 60, and the yard on +31 (0)416 768 038 or welcome@bekkersyachts.com. The yard replies personally within one working day.
