The yachting division of the Damen family group, building Amels platforms in Vlissingen with hulls from Poland and Romania and explorers from Antalya.
1918 Amels · 2020 division
Founded
Damen Shipyards Group, family
Owner
EUR 3.25 bn · 2025
Group revenue
14 yachts
In build
10th · 14 projects, 1,021 m
Rank
50 to 120 m
Range
What happened, 2023 to 2026
2025MoneyGroup report flags cash-flow issues at Yachting; full custom reviewed; Antalya to grow
Aug 2025BuildXplorer 60 and a YS53 delivered, both built in Antalya
Sep 2025Build120 m Project Tanzanite launched, largest Dutch motor yacht
Nov 2025Top seatRose Damen: series platforms first, full custom only with an owner signed
Mar 2026MoneyGroup profit up; Yachting cut stock, orders strong, US position stronger
Sep 2026DealAnother Amels 60 sold for 2027
What it adds up to. After a costly full-custom period the division went back to platforms built on speculation, and Antalya is now a production hub.
Who runs it
Managing Directorsince 2015
Director Salessince 2018
Asia Directorsince 2015
Manager productionsince 2023
Director of Operationssince 2024
Head of Design and Developmentsince 2026
Manager Engineering, Damen Yachtingsince 2025
Organisation. Family group division; family managing director with a commercial director
What it shows for a new yard. A family managing director with a commercial director, inside a group that supplies hulls, finance and engineering.
Former leaders now elsewhere8 people who held a top or senior seat here
now Managing Director Damen Green solutions a.i. at Damen shipyards group
now Managing Director @ DAMEN at Damen
now Founder at MES MARINE (Marine Engineering Services)
now Commercial Director at Astilleros de Mallorca - Refit and Repair Shipyard
now Project Director at Oceanco
now Uitvoerend directeur at Oceanco
now Director of Operations division Offshore and Specialized Vessels at Damen
now Eigenaar at Victor Caminada B.V.
Organisation chartthe top seat, the senior layer by function, and the managers where the top team is small; the number two is marked
RD
Rose Damen
Managing Director
since 2015
Benchmark
Sales and marketing2 senior, +2 managers below
Engineering and design2 senior, +32 managers below
Production and operations3 senior, +11 managers below
Projects and service2 senior, +11 managers below
Purchasing1 senior, +2 managers below
Finance, legal and IT1 senior, +2 managers below
Rob Luijendijk
Director Sales
since 2018
Benchmark
Yunzhu JIN
Asia Director
since 2015
DL
Daan Langezaal
Head of Design and Development
since 2026
Erdinç Açıkel, PhD, MBA.
Manager Engineering, Damen Yachting
since 2025
MP
Mark Platschorre
Manager production
since 2023
Sjoerd van den Broek
Director of Operations
since 2024
Number two
Willem Bierens
Head of Production
since 2023
Michel Coens
Head of Refit & Services
since 2021
TE
Tjarco Ekkelkamp
Project director
Martin Van Heulen
Head of Procurement
since 2019
BZ
Bart Zielhuis
Financial Director
since 2025
Managers in functions with no senior seat on the page, not drawn: people 2
Number two. Runs operations and the project management department since 2024 under a family managing director; the sales director (Luijendijk) is the former managing director, the past rather than the future.
The top team as read on LinkedIn99 people read as staff, October 2026
Managing Director from the owning family (since 2015) over: Director Sales (the former managing director), Asia Director, Director of Operations (who also heads project management), Head of Production, Head of Design and Development, Head of Procurement, Head of Refit & Services, Financial Director (shared with the Damen group), Head of Sustainability.
A family-group model: the owner family holds the top seat and the group supplies finance; the professional yacht career sits in the sales seat, where the man who ran Amels as managing director for eleven years now sells the Amels Limited Editions platforms. Operations and production are led by engineers who came up through Amels project management. No CCO or COO title: sales and operations report straight to the managing director. Long tenures everywhere except design and development, renewed in 2026, and production, handed over in 2023 at a retirement.
Seats and dates are as the people describe them on LinkedIn; a person who moved in the last months can still show the old seat. Tap a person for the profile and the reading.
Candidates at Damen Yachting · Amels6 people under 50 in the pools; the shortlisted first
Gencay OK
Project Manager Engineering at Damen Yachting · Netherlands
Age43 to 47estimate from the degree years on the profile
Based inNetherlands
Current seatProject Manager Engineering, Damen Yachting · Amels, since 2021
CareerSince 2005, 21 years
Builders on the CVDamen Yachting · Amels (current)
EducationKaradeniz Technical University
LanguagesNot given
In brief
Engineering project manager since May 2021 on custom and yacht-support projects; nine years of marketing and business development at Sedef and seven as a TVK project coordinator before; Turkish naval architect, Karadeniz Technical University 2004, about 44.
RD
Rose Damen
Member Board of Directors at BOMBARDIER · Vlissingen, Netherlands
AgeAbout 42checked against the dated milestones of the profile
Based inVlissingen, Netherlands
Current seatMember Board of Directors, Damen Yachting · Amels, since 2023
CareerSince 2008, 18 years
Builders on the CVDamen Yachting · Amels (current)
EducationINSEAD Master of Business Administration (MBA); Erasmus University Rotterdam
LanguagesNot given
In brief
Managing Director since Jul 2015; Damen family; INSEAD MBA, investment analyst, one year as group sales trainee before taking the seat; Bombardier board member. The brief's benchmark for a family-held top seat over a professional yacht team. Not a mover.
Age36 to 40estimate from the degree years on the profile
Based inNetherlands
Current seatProject Manager, Damen Yachting · Amels, since 2020
CareerSince 2002, 24 years
Builders on the CVDamen Yachting · Amels (current)
EducationRotterdam University of Applied Sciences Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) · Mechanical engineering
LanguagesNot given
In brief
Project manager since Nov 2020; owner and chief executive of the family repair yard De Volharding for four years and Damen Shiprepair project manager before; Rotterdam 2011, about 38.
DL
Daan Langezaal
Head of Design and Development at Damen Yachting · Breda, Netherlands
Age39 to 43estimate from the degree years on the profile
Based inBreda, Netherlands
Current seatHead of Design and Development, Damen Yachting · Amels, since 2026
CareerSince 2010, 16 years
Builders on the CVDamen Yachting · Amels (current)
EducationTIAS School for Business and Society Executive MBA; De Haagse Hogeschool / The Hague University of Applied Scien B Eng · Mechanical Engineering
LanguagesNot given
In brief
Since Feb 2026; senior project manager on Damen Yachting builds 2019-2026, SeaXplorer and high-speed craft project manager before; mechanical engineer with an executive MBA.
MP
Mark Platschorre
Manager Production at Damen Yachting · Vlissingen, Netherlands
AgeAbout 45estimate from the school years on the profile
Based inGoes, Netherlands
Current seatHead of Production, Damen Yachting · Amels, since 2023
CareerSince 2002, 24 years
Builders on the CVDamen Yachting · Amels (current)
EducationZeeuws Instituut voor Organisatieontwikkeling Hoger Bedrijfskundig Management; NEVI 2 - Tactisch
LanguagesDuits, Engels
In brief
Head of Production since Apr 2023 (manager production 2019-2023, project manager production at Amels 2010-2019; purchasing before). Production leader for the Amels platforms; no commercial exposure.
Facts and news, with sourcesthe research behind the overview
Show the facts and the dated news with their sources
Identity
Full name: Damen Yachting, the yachting division of Damen Shipyards Group N.V. (Netherlands). Division created 30 April 2020 to bring Amels, SeaXplorer (now Xplorer) and Yacht Support under one roof. source
Founded: Amels began in 1918 in Makkum (northern Netherlands); bought by the Damen family in 1991; moved to Vlissingen in 2005. Damen group founded 1927 by Jan and Marinus Damen. source 1source 2
Headquarters: Vlissingen City yard (former Royal Schelde site), the Netherlands. source
Yards (same source): Vlissingen City (head office, Amels outfitting, covered halls up to 204 m); Vlissingen East (halls up to 200 m, shared with Damen Shiprepair); Gdynia, Poland (Amels hull building since 2005, up to 84 m); Antalya Free Trade Zone, Türkiye (Yacht Support and Xplorer builds); Galati, Romania (large and custom yacht hulls). The 2024 annual report names Antalya as a "key production hub" to develop. source
Ownership: 100% part of Damen Shipyards Group, a family-owned company (Damen family, third generation; Arnout Damen is group CEO). source
Brands: Amels (Limited Editions and Full Custom), Xplorer (formerly SeaXplorer), Yacht Support, Refit. source
Size
Employees: not found for the division. (Galati yard has about 4,000 people, but it builds for the whole group. source
Revenue: not published for the division. Group revenue EUR 3.25 billion in 2025 (2024: EUR 3.02 billion), EBITDA EUR 185 million, net profit EUR 61.1 million. source
Boat International Global Order Book 2026 (data as of 1 September 2025): rank 10, 14 projects, 1,021 m total, average 72.9 m. GOB 2025: rank 10, 1,002 m. source
14 superyachts in build across Amels, Xplorer and Yacht Support (2025-11-03). source
Product
Size range: about 50 m (Yacht Support) to 120 m (Amels 120 Full Custom). Xplorer in 60, 80 and 105 m models.
Hull materials: steel hulls with aluminium superstructures (standard for this class; material per model not confirmed in a primary source — see open points).
Build approach: semi-custom series platforms, often started on speculation. The 2025 annual report describes the business as "semi-custom superyachts under the Amels brand".
Full custom (Amels Full Custom, launched 2015 for 80 to 110 m+): only with an owner already signed, per Rose Damen (2025-11-03). The 2024 report mentions a "revaluation of our full custom options" after cash flow issues and difficult projects.
Xplorer: expedition yachts (60, 80, 105 m), built partly in Antalya.
Yacht Support: support vessels (YS53) for tenders, toys, helicopter.
Flagship: Project Tanzanite, Amels 120 Full Custom, 120 m, 6,083 GT, launched September 2025, largest motor yacht built in the Netherlands, delivery due 2026. source
Notable deliveries 2023 to 2026.
Two Yacht Support 53 vessels, 53 m, 2024 (including Bad Company).
Xplorer 60 After You, 60 m, plus YS53 Emotional, 53 m, both built in Antalya, August 2025. source
Pangea, first Amels 80, 80 m, October 2025. source
Group CEO (Damen Shipyards Group): Arnout Damen — as of 2026-03-26. source
Managing Director, Damen Yachting: Rose Damen — as of 2025-11-03. source
Commercial Director, Damen Yachting: Rob Luijendijk — as of 2026-09-09. source
Interior design concepts: Annelies Damen — as of 2025-11-03. Same BI source.
Marketing Director: Thomas Wieringa — as of 2021-11 (appointment; current status not confirmed). source
News 2023 to 2026
2026-09
Damen Yachting sells Amels 60 Project Vogue (60 m, delivery 2027); Commercial Director Rob Luijendijk quoted.swzmaritime.nl
2026-05
Delivery of Amels 60 QU2 from Vlissingen City.swzmaritime.nl
2026-03
Damen Shipyards Group reports 2025 revenue of EUR 3.25 billion and net profit of EUR 61.1 million; Damen Yachting cut stock and reports strong order intake and a stronger US position.damen.com
2025-11
Rose Damen (managing director) says the yard bets on standard platforms and series building and starts full-custom projects only with an owner signed.boatinternational.com
2025-10
Delivery of Pangea, the first Amels 80; five Amels 80 units reported in build.damenyachting.com
2025-09
Launch of 120 m Project Tanzanite, the largest Dutch-built motor yacht.amelsyachting.com
2025 (annual report 2024, published 2025)
Group reports cash flow issues, high stock levels and project performance concerns at Damen Yachting, a revaluation of full-custom options, a 120 m quay expansion in Vlissingen, and plans to develop Antalya as a production hub.lobbyregister.bundestag.de
2023-06
Hull of the 120 m Amels Full Custom arrives in Vlissingen from Galati for outfitting.amelsyachting.com
