The newly released footage captures the yacht navigating the tight Dutch canal system, highlighting both the precision handling required during the transit and the physical constraints that shaped her design from the outset.
Designed Around the Limits of Dutch Waterways
As she departs the Dutch shipyard, Shine moves through narrow locks and confined channels with minimal clearance, a direct result of the dimensional limits imposed by inland infrastructure. Her 8.5-meter beam was defined early in the design process to ensure she could pass through these waterways, influencing the yacht’s proportions and internal layout.
This consideration is one of the defining parameters behind the project, where engineering decisions were driven as much by geography as by performance targets. For a 40-meter yacht with a gross tonnage of 370GT, the controlled transit through such restricted waterways reflects careful planning across naval architecture, propulsion setup, and handling characteristics.
Preparing for Sea Trials
With the departure complete, Shine is now entering the final stage of commissioning, with sea trials scheduled to begin in the coming days. These trials will validate performance targets, onboard systems, and handling under operational conditions ahead of handover.
The yacht is powered by twin MTU 16V 2000 engines, delivering a projected cruising speed of 19 knots and a top speed of around 24 knots. Her fast-displacement aluminum hull has been developed to maintain efficiency across a broad speed range, rather than focusing solely on peak output.
The Yard’s Largest Build to Date
At just under 40 meters, Shine represents the largest superyacht constructed by Van der Valk in terms of both length and volume, marking a clear step forward for the Dutch builder’s custom program.
Originally developed as Project EVO, the yacht evolved from an initial 36-meter concept before expanding into a near-40-meter platform. Exterior and interior design were handled by Cristiano Gatto Design, with naval architecture by Ginton Naval Architects and structural engineering by Diana Yacht Design.
Owner-Operator Focus
A central requirement from the outset was for a motor yacht that could be operated directly by an experienced owner, without sacrificing the level of finish expected at this size. That brief shaped both the technical setup and the onboard arrangement.
Inside, the design leans on material depth and detailing rather than bold styling gestures. Around 78 materials have been used throughout, including ebony wood, leather, and custom-built furnishings, creating a layered and highly tailored interior environment. Accommodation is configured for 10 guests across five staterooms, including a main-deck owner’s suite positioned forward.
One of the most technically demanding areas of the build lies aft, where a transformer swim platform, drop-down balconies, and a transom-access beach club are integrated into a relatively compact structure. This configuration extends usable space at the waterline while maintaining the yacht’s clean exterior profile, a balance that required careful structural engineering to manage weight and rigidity.
Further Builds Advance at Van der Valk
According to YachtBuyer MarketWatch, the largest yacht database in the world, Shine’s progression into sea trials comes amid steady activity across Van der Valk’s custom order book, with several projects at different stages of completion.
Most recently, the yard delivered the 36m superyacht Jangada, now in Plymouth following her departure from the Netherlands, marking a third project for a repeat owner and continuing a focus on long-stay, family-oriented cruising with increased onboard volume. At the same time, construction is progressing on the 31m Project Berlin at the Waalwijk facility, where aluminium hull works are underway ahead of her 2027 delivery, with the raised pilothouse design tailored for experienced owners and featuring an asymmetric layout to maximize interior space within a controlled beam.
Looking ahead to the current year, the 33m Project May is also due for delivery in 2026. Designed by Guido de Groot Design with naval architecture by Diana Yacht Design, the semi-displacement aluminium yacht targets a top speed of 23 knots and accommodates 10 guests across five cabins.
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With canal transit complete and sea trials imminent, Shine now enters the final stretch before delivery. The coming weeks will determine how the yacht performs under real-world conditions, confirming the design and engineering decisions that have shaped Van der Valk’s largest project to date.
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