Van der Valk launches 35m LALABE ahead of Cannes debut
Under blue skies and with the late Spring sun shining down, Van der Valk launched its latest custom superyacht at its Waalwijk shipyard in the south of the Netherlands on Saturday 24 May. The launch of the 35-metre Project Samba signifies the move to sea trials and final fit-out of the yacht before she is delivered to her owners this summer bearing the name LALABE.
The 35-metre, all-aluminium tri-deck design draws on the naval architecture and core engineering of Van der Valk’s multi-award-winning 34-metre Lady Lene, reimagined with a fast displacement hull capable of 17 knots from twin MAN engines. LALABE features a totally custom design from the waterline up by Guido de Groot, who worked closely with the highly experienced owners to create their perfect yacht both inside and out.
As her Project Samba build name suggests, LALABE has been conceived to offer a yachting experience centred on the rhythms of life and of the sea. Custom created to deliver an exceptional seaborne sanctuary for a multi-generational family, key elements of waterside residential living have been ported from land to luxury yacht, such as the inviting garden terrace reimagined as an expansive aft cockpit and beach area that offers alfresco dining, relaxed sofas, sauna and steam room, a beach chill-out zone, and transformer platform to give easy access to the sea.
The galley has been designed with plenty of working space and a cooking island as it will be regularly used by the owners. They will also enjoy a main deck master suite that incorporates an office area, walk-in his-and-hers wardrobes and a large ensuite, while the lower deck offers two VIP suites and two twin guest cabins, as well as three crew cabins, while the captains cabin is located directly behind the bridge. A large central staircase rises through LALABE not only serving to link the decks but also standing as a sculptural centrepiece for the interior.
The design also encapsulates the inside-outside living ethos, with deck areas moving seamlessly into interior spaces and with boundaries between the two blurred or removed altogether – on the bridge deck, for example, sliding doors open the upper saloon on three sides to create a true hybrid and truly flexible area.
LALABE’s profile gives a modern take to classic explorer lines, with darker details and offset surfaces helping to lower the profile of the tri-deck yacht as well as blending the one-metre-high bulwarks that will ensure the side decks remain exceptionally safe for children. The result is an elegant and sophisticated profile that confers dynamism and purpose while disguising the yacht’s surprisingly voluminous interior.
“It is a pleasure to work with clients so invested in their yacht on a personal level,” says Guido de Groot. “Their knowledge has also been deployed on the technical side and in choosing the best possible equipment for the wheelhouse. LALABE is an excellent example of why people who appreciate a bespoke building process choose to work with us and Van der Valk.”
Adds Yoeri Bijker, Commercial Director at Van der Valk: “LALABE encapsulates everything that Van der Valk stands for – superb engineering, custom design, Dutch quality and bespoke construction combining to create a client’s perfect yacht. To see the project hit the water for the first time is an exciting moment, and we know she will be a very happy home away from home for her owners and their family when they take delivery this summer.”
LALABE will make her public debut this September at the 2025 Cannes Yachting Festival, where the Van der Valk team will be on hand to show interested parties around the yacht and to discuss projects with potential clients.
