Bekkers Yachts comes from the superyacht world, not the production boat world. Its roots lie in Inoferro, a company founded in 2007 that makes high-polished stainless-steel components for superyacht yards around the globe. Founder Leon Bekkers started there at 19 and went on to run the company, and that experience is why every Bekkers yacht is built to superyacht standards at 40 to 60 ft.

Where it started: Inoferro, 2007

Inoferro was founded in 2007 by Emile Bilterijst as part of Moonen Shipyards, a builder known for so-called pocket superyachts of 25 to 50 metres. The company was set up to do one thing very well: produce stainless-steel products to the standard the superyacht market demands.

That standard is exacting. On a superyacht, stainless hardware is not an afterthought. It is visible, it is touched every day, and it has to look flawless for decades in salt air. Inoferro built its name on high-polished work with no visible weld marks, and today it supplies these components to superyacht yards all over the world.

Leon Bekkers: from work planner to owner

Leon Bekkers did not plan a career in yachting. He studied graphic design, but soon after graduating he realised that was not the path he wanted. Through his father, who already worked at Inoferro, he joined the company as a holiday worker.

He stayed. Emile Bilterijst appointed him work planner when he was just nineteen. Leon then became an engineer, then manager, and eventually took over the entire company. Along the way he spent years inside the workshops and project rooms of the superyacht industry, learning what owners at that level expect and how the best yards deliver it.

In Leon's words: "The yacht market is an incredibly addictive market. From the very beginning, it feels like you are playing in the Champions League and the sky truly is the limit."

You can read more about Leon on Leon Bekkers, founder of Bekkers Yachts.

Why a superyacht supplier started building yachts

The idea for Bekkers Yachts came from a contrast. On smaller boats, Leon found that comfort and quality fell well short of what he saw every day in superyacht work. Then, after chartering a boat on Ibiza, he returned to the harbour and saw six identical boats lined up in a row.

"If you can own a luxury product like that, surely you want something unique and distinctive, instead of merely being the seventh boat in the row?"

That question became the brief. No mass production, no fibreglass hull, no restrictions. Instead: hand-built aluminium yachts in the dayboat and weekender segment, finished with the same stainless craftsmanship that Inoferro delivers to the superyacht market. The tagline sums it up: Built for the exceptional.

The jewels of the yacht

There is a saying in the superyacht market: "High-polished stainless-steel hardware are the jewels of the yacht." On a Bekkers yacht, those jewels are made in-house by the craftsmen of Inoferro.

The most visible signature is the stainless contour line that runs from the rear grille all the way to the bow. It is a deliberate reminder of where the company comes from. Motor Boat & Yachting noted in its first look at the AZUR 45 that fit and finish were exceptional for a 45-footer, with no visible weld marks.

Exterior designer René van der Velden explains why this matters for the design: "The stainless-steel elements enrich the design and make it more unique. Leon's craftsmanship has allowed us to attain that exclusive superyacht standard." See Superyacht heritage: from Inoferro stainless steel to Bekkers Yachts for how this work is done.

Emile Bilterijst: the superyacht mind behind the yard

Emile Bilterijst is closely familiar with the shipbuilding sector. He studied shipbuilding in Delft, worked in various positions at Damen Shipyards and then joined Royal Schelde in Vlissingen. In 1998 he took over Moonen Shipyards, and in 2007 he founded Inoferro within it.

Since the start of the AZUR 45 development, Emile has advised Leon through Bilterijst Marine Consultancy. His input covers three areas:

Technical

Yacht design and engineering questions, drawing on his knowledge of what a superyacht looks like inside and out and the standards it must meet.

Commercial

How the market works and how best to organise a yard.

Legal

How to handle agreements with clients and partners.

His guiding principle is simple: because a yacht is a luxury item, the client's wishes always come first.

What this heritage means for owners

Superyacht thinking shows up well beyond the stainless steel. On the AZUR 45, Bondal insulation material isolates noise and vibration, the engine room is vibration-dampened and noise-isolated, and a clear wake system drains exhaust above the waterline when stationary, so there is no constant bubbling at anchor. These are solutions usually reserved for much larger yachts.

The same goes for the interior. Bathrooms are finished in Corian with a mosaic finish, mattresses come from Hespera, a pioneer of circular mattresses for superyachts, and upholstery is by superyacht upholsterer Vosco, with thousands of fabrics to choose from. Paint is applied by hand, layer by layer, for a mirror-smooth result. Explore the options on Bespoke.

The result is a yacht in the 40 to 60 ft range that is built the way much larger yachts are built. The AZUR 45HT starts from EUR 1,359,500 excl. VAT and engines (2026). The larger Carib 64HT, now in build, carries the same high-gloss stainless signature into the family weekender segment.