Dutch shipyard Van der Valk has unveiled a 30-metre superyacht concept known as Project Nexo – standing for "new experience x-over" – conceived for "active, design-conscious owners".
Developed in collaboration with fellow Dutch firm Phathom Studio, the yacht has been designed to represent the yard's vision of "what modern yachting at this length can, and should, feel like". As such, the yacht has been developed with a focus on wellness - not just within the onboard amenities such as a spa or a gym, but in its very architecture, the yard explained, shaped around the people living within it.
Designed to adapt around its owners, Project Nexo's layout prioritises spatial flexibility, with areas able to shift in configuration depending on the mood, use and number of guests on board. The yacht champions a minimalist design language, characterised by natural materials and a deliberate blurring between interior living and exterior decks, curated to offer a sense of calm throughout.
At the stern, a dual-level beach club has been designed as the social and recreational heart of the yacht. Here, a central hot tub is flanked by opening terraces for a direct connection to the water, while a concealed garage below keeps a tender and a selection of water toys out of sight beneath a clean, walkable deck. Extending the space further is a broad hydraulic swim platform.
Forward, a liftable bow platform transforms the foredeck into a multi-use space: raised, it can be used for sunbathing; when cleared, it can be used as a dedicated fitness zone. There is also a screen which can be lifted to create an open-air cinema night under the stars.
Inside, the main deck saloon opens aft and to both sides, merging with the exterior decks to form additional side terraces. To port, a sliding bar can be moved to suit the occasion, while a starboard sofa rotates outwards, connecting the exterior terrace to create a single indoor-outdoor seating arrangement. On the same deck forward lies the full-beam owner's suite with an integrated en suite. Above, an upper deck lounge is just as adaptable, convertible into an indoor-outdoor dining area, a gym or a spa.
Throughout the interior, natural materials such as stone, linen and leather have been chosen, not simply for their look, but for their textural qualities, described as "tactile, grounding, and evocative of the natural world", according to the yard.
Biophilic detailing, from planting to organic textures, has been chosen to ensure a focus on the external environment, with the overall material scheme created to make owners feel "more present, more at ease and more connected to their surroundings".
"The name captures the ambition behind the design," a statement from Van der Valk explained. "Project Nexo is a crossover in the truest sense: dissolving the lines between interior and exterior, between yacht and sea, and between the many ways a single space can be used. It is wellness understood not as a checklist of features, but as a state of mind built into the yacht’s very architecture." Presented as a concept, the yacht can be customised according to her owner.
Exclusive BOATPro data reveals the shipyard currently has three yachts under construction, including its largest custom build to date, the 47.8-metre Project Zen.
Read More/Construction milestone on Van der Valk's largest custom build to date