Yes, you can buy a new Bekkers yacht from the US or the UK, and many owners of European-built yachts do exactly that. Our prices are quoted excluding VAT, for example the AZUR 45HT from EUR 1,359,500 excl. VAT and engines (2026). If the yacht leaves the EU, it is typically supplied without Dutch VAT, and you settle import VAT and any duties in the country where you bring it in.

This article explains the general principles. It is not tax advice. Rules differ by country, by how the yacht is owned and by where it will be used, so please confirm your own position with a tax adviser before you commit.

Why our prices are quoted excluding VAT

Every Bekkers yacht is built for a specific owner, and owners come from different countries. VAT on a yacht depends on where it is delivered and where it will be used, not on where it was built. Quoting excluding VAT gives every buyer the same starting point.

For reference, the standard rate of VAT in the Netherlands is 21%. Whether that rate applies to your yacht depends on the delivery route described below.

The EU VAT status of a new yacht

Inside the European Union, VAT on a new yacht is typically paid once, in the member state where the yacht is delivered or, for cross-border sales, where it is registered and used. EU law treats boats over 7.5 metres as "new means of transport" when they are recently built or have sailed few hours. For these, VAT is typically due in the buyer's own member state rather than in the country of the yard.

Once EU VAT has been paid and documented, the yacht has "VAT paid" status. That status matters later: it makes cruising within the EU straightforward and it generally adds value when you sell.

A yacht that leaves the EU without VAT being paid does not have EU VAT paid status. If it later returns to EU waters for an extended period, rules such as temporary admission may apply, with conditions on ownership, residence and length of stay. Your tax adviser can confirm whether this applies to you.

Export: what happens at the yard

When a yacht is sold for export outside the EU, the sale can typically be zero-rated for VAT, provided the export is properly documented. In practice that means customs export declarations and proof that the yacht has physically left the EU.

The yacht can leave in two ways:

• By ship or freighter. The usual route for a transatlantic delivery. The yacht is lifted on board a cargo ship or a dedicated yacht transport vessel and shipped to a port near its new home.
• Under its own power. Practical for shorter routes, for example to a UK port, subject to weather and the yacht's CE category.

The AZUR 45HT is CE / RCD category B. That category is designed for offshore conditions up to wind force 8 and significant wave heights up to 4 metres. It does not cover ocean crossings, so a delivery to the US is done by ship.

The yard will confirm in your quote how transport and export paperwork are arranged, and the expected timing.

What US buyers typically consider

• Import duty. Pleasure boats imported into the US are subject to customs duty under the US tariff schedule.
• Customs entry. A licensed customs broker usually handles the entry, fees and paperwork.
• Engine compliance. Marine engines used in the US must meet US emissions rules. The AZUR 45 runs on Volvo Penta IPS. Ask the yard which engine specification and certification apply to a yacht delivered to the US.
• Electrical and equipment specification. US shore power differs from Europe. Ask the yard about the electrical specification for a yacht kept in the US.
• Registration and state taxes. Registration, documentation and any state sales or use tax depend on your home state and where the yacht is kept.

Buying from the UK: import VAT after Brexit

Since the UK left the EU, a yacht moving from the Netherlands to the UK is an export from the EU and an import into the UK. It is no longer an intra-EU sale.

In practice this typically means:

• The yacht is supplied from the Netherlands without Dutch VAT, as an export.
• On arrival, UK import VAT is due, at the standard rate of 20%, calculated on the value of the yacht including transport costs to the UK and any duty.
• Customs duty may apply depending on the classification and the origin rules of the UK and EU trade agreement. A UK tax adviser can confirm the duty position for your yacht.
• UK product conformity rules apply to recreational craft placed on the UK market. Check the current position with your adviser before delivery.

A UK owner who plans to spend long periods in EU waters should take advice on VAT status before delivery. Where the yacht is VAT paid, and where it is kept, have real consequences for cruising and for resale.

A simple overview

This table is a simplified guide. Your adviser will confirm what applies to you.

How we support international owners

Buying from abroad does not mean buying blind. You can visit the yard in Heusden, on the river Maas, and see how your yacht is built. You can also arrange a sea trial at the yard.

During the build we keep you informed and help coordinate with your adviser, your broker and the transport company. We offer worldwide service and aftersales, and we think along with you on maintenance, servicing and storage. Ask the yard how this is organised in your country.

The yard replies personally within one working day to every enquiry.