This 98-Foot Superyacht Was Built for One Owner’s Dream Lifestyle 

Dutch shipyard Van der Valk has unveiled Project Berlin, a new 98-foot (30-metre) fully custom yacht that puts lifestyle first and convention firmly second. Designed by Guido de Groot, the all-aluminium yacht is being built for owners stepping up from a serial-production yacht and seeking something more personal than a semi-custom platform can offer.

Summer Living

Set for delivery in summer 2027, Project Berlin represents a new direction for the shipyard—its first fully custom yacht of this size, and one shaped around how the owners plan to live on board. The project team emphasized that the owners weren’t looking for charter appeal or resale optimization; they simply wanted it built for themselves and for how they want to use it.

The plans are for the owners to use the boat extensively from April through October, spending prolonged periods on board. This vision is evident in the layout. Rather than following the traditional formula for yachts of this size with four guest cabins, the yacht will feature just two expansive VIP suites on the lower deck and a full-beam owner’s suite positioned forward on the main deck.

Photo from Van der Valk Shippyard

Standout Features

Other areas, such as the main saloon and dining area, are designed to be light-filled and open, with large windows that connect the boundary between inside and out. A raised pilothouse provides uninterrupted social spaces on the main deck, and the aft area features a high-low swim platform and an integrated tender garage.

Wider than typical for a yacht of this length, its 23-foot (7-meter) beam means there will be notably expansive deck spaces. A standout feature is the sundeck, offering a Jacuzzi, relaxed seating, and alfresco dining alongside an outdoor galley. These indoor-outdoor living priorities were key to the owners when designing the brief, wanting the yacht to function as a seasonal floating home.

Despite remaining under the regulatory threshold of 24 meters, the yacht will incorporate a cleverly engineered tender garage in a purpose-built watertight section within the engine room, highlighting how custom-engineering solutions can overcome the usual spatial limitations.

Owner-Led Design

Project Berlin is an interesting new yacht highlighting a shift in how owners approach yacht ownership and new builds. Rather than defaulting to proven charter-friendly layouts, are more buyers now prioritizing how they personally live and relax on board?

For owners moving up from production yachts, semi-custom platforms can still feel limiting, offering surface-level personalization without true freedom. Whereas Project Berlin has been designed around longer stays, indoor-outdoor living, and residential-scale comfort levels.

For Van der Valk, the project is exciting, and for the wider industry, it raises the question of whether we are entering an era in which more superyachts are personally designed.