Nehalennia

A classic hoogaars, built for the ocean

DNehalennia is not a reconstruction of a ship from the past, she is the next step in a long-standing tradition. Built with deep respect for Zeeland’s maritime heritage, yet with a bold eye on the future. A contemporary interpretation of the hoogaars, the rugged working vessel once used by fishermen braving the rough waters of the Western Scheldt.

Zeeland’s hoogaarzen typically sailed east to west, across the prevailing winds. That’s why this type of flat-bottomed ship features a long, sharply raked stem designed to deflect spray and keep the deck dry. Nehalennia retains and refines those lines. Her hull is sleek, her stern classic, and an innovative bulb ahead of the bow thruster reduces drag to a minimum.

A ship like this isn’t born out of nostalgia, but from a deep love of sailing craftsmanship. As one expert put it: “Melis van Duivendijk would have licked his fingers.”

The construction of Nehalennia proves that traditional ship types can be brought back to life and when that happens, development begins anew.