Royal Balk Shipyard has announced the appointment of Niels Lensen as its new Sales Director, effective from 1 July 2026.
Lensen will be responsible for all commercial activities at Royal Balk Shipyard and will be the primary point of contact for yacht refits, ReCraft projects and class surveys. He brings more than three decades of experience across the full spectrum of yacht services, including brokerage, new construction, surveys, management, charter, maintenance and refit, in both the Netherlands and the Mediterranean.
In 2015, Lensen founded NL Marine, a boutique brokerage house operating between the Netherlands and the French Côte d’Azur. Prior to launching NL Marine, he held sales director positions at Jongert and Lengers Yachts France, a dealership representing leading brands such as Ferretti Group and Zeelander Yachts.
“Royal Balk Shipyard has long set the standard for serious refit and ReCraft work in the Netherlands, and I am honoured to be joining the team,” says Lensen. “The craftsmanship, the facilities in Urk, and the calibre of projects that come through the yard are a compelling combination. I very much look forward to working with clients who share that same passion for doing things properly.”
According to the shipyard, his appointment comes at a time of increasing demand for complex refit and ReCraft projects. His expertise, international network and deep understanding of the owner journey are expected to strengthen Royal Balk Shipyard’s commercial presence across Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and North America. He will help drive the yard’s continued focus on large-scale transformations of high-quality motor and sailing yachts from 30 to 65 metres.
ReCraft is Royal Balk Shipyard’s registered trademark and describes the transformation of an existing yacht through extensive refit, redesign and technical upgrades, restoring it to a condition that rivals or even surpasses new-build standards.
Royal Balk Shipyard has consistently attracted yachts of exceptional pedigree for major ReCraft projects, including the award-nominated transformation of the 30.36-metre “Ursus”, the extensive rebuild of the highly sought-after classic 50.4-metre Feadship “Emerald”, and several high-end sailing yachts.
