We begin the day skimming across the Mediterranean aboard Monaco One, the futuristic catamaran shuttle that zips us from Monaco to Italy. Within fifteen minutes the Riviera softens into the honey-toned folds of Ventimiglia, Italy. Cala del Forte, the latest jewel of Monaco Ports, gleams ahead. And there, at berth, lies Agnetha; fifty-five metres of sculpted steel and glass, her profile both sleek and muscular.
Even before stepping aboard, her presence is striking. The latest in Heesen Yachts’ acclaimed 55-metre Steel series, Agnetha bears the clean geometry of Frank Laupman of Omega Architects. Horizontal lines lengthen her silhouette; the signature ‘shark-tooth’ overhang lends poise and personality. She’s large enough to cross oceans, compact enough to slip into Mediterranean harbours.
Once onboard, the buzz of the marina fades. Light glances across pale timber and through to her inviting salon. The air carries that subtle scent of new craftsmanship. Agnetha is not ostentatious, rather she feels composed. Cool. Beautiful in the way understatement always is.
New era for a Dutch icon
Founded in 1978, Heesen Yachts has launched more than two hundred yachts, its reputation built on the Dutch marriage of precision and artistry. The company announced the successful sale of Agnetha at the Monaco Yacht Show in September. Spring 2025 marked a new chapter: the shipyard’s full acquisition by Dutch entrepreneur, investor and yachtsman Laurens Last (below).
His arrival secures Heesen’s future on home soil and injects fresh momentum. In 2024 the company recorded its strongest results to date – €209 million in revenue –and is now setting its sights firmly on global expansion. Yet the core promise remains the same: to blend innovation with artisanal heritage.
“At the heart of our journey is our extraordinary workforce,” shares Last. “With 500 full-time employees and an additional flexible team of 500 specialists, more than 1,000 skilled professionals bring passion and expertise to Heesen every day. Their dedication ensures that we remain at the forefront of superyacht design, engineering, and craftsmanship.”
When technology serves design
At the shipyard in Oss, innovation increasingly speaks the language of artificial intelligence. The tool promises to unlock a range of significant benefits for the future of yacht design; spotting design flaws before they exist, running performance simulations with microscopic accuracy, streamlining logistics, even enabling clients to configure layouts interactively.
“We will continue to push the boundaries of yacht design and manufacturing excellence,” adds Last. “By harnessing modern technologies, including AI, we will deliver enhanced customisation and reduced build times, while upholding the exceptional quality for which Heesen is renowned. Embracing innovation at every stage, Heesen will set new standards for the industry: building better yachts, faster.”
Elegance and infinite possibility
The yacht’s interiors were crafted by the talent of Silvia Margutti and her team. Sylvia is Design Head at Luca Dini Design & Architecture.
“The interiors needed to have the soul and atmosphere of a gentleman, an experienced owner with a wide variety of tastes,” Sylvia says as we walk through the main salon, sunlight moving across the gorgeous interiors. “We imagined it as one of those women you see in jeans, a white T-shirt and a blazer; effortlessly elegant, special, and full of character.”
And certainly, there’s a cool, contemporary composure here that feels confident, a palette of soft neutrals, with warm highlights and touches of turquoise along with natural textures designed to host any owner’s style.
“Quiet elegance, but with great potential,” she adds. “A space discreet enough to host whatever personality the owner brings; their own colours, their own taste, their own style.”
The architecture of light
Once at sea, Agnetha glides effortlessly across the Mediterranean miles. Sylvia takes us on a tour. The yacht welcomes twelve guests in six staterooms, with the vast owner’s suite on the main deck forward, four guest cabins on the lower deck and the VIP on the bridge deck.
For me, one of the most striking design details is found in the master suite. The ingenious design of the double-height-effect windows casts reflections of the sea onto the ceiling, so that when the yacht is underway, the mirrored motion of the waves creates a mesmerising, almost hypnotic effect.
This is what Heesen does best: geometry that disappears, leaving only sensation.
Work, family, and the new luxury of function
Luxury, in 2025, is perhaps, less about excess and more about ease. Owners want yachts that live like homes and work like offices. Agnetha’s main-deck owner’s suite is a nod to that shift: 86 square metres of calm with a private veranda and, at its heart, an office of dreams.
“When we discussed the office, he said, ‘Let’s do it how I would do it,’” Sylvia shares recalling a conversation with Heesen owner Laurens Last. “He’s an entrepreneur, someone who loves to work but also to be with his family. He told me, ‘I don’t want a mini desk with an uncomfortable chair. I want space for my laptop, my papers – I want to sit there, look outside, be able to work and feel comfortable.’” Across the fleet, Heesen has been designing for real life, from Santosha and Orion, created for multigenerational families, to pet-friendly innovations that consider the four-legged members of the guest list. Personalisation is paramount.
Performance in motion
Agnetha’s beauty runs deep below the waterline. Her ultra-efficient Fast Displacement Hull Form cuts fuel consumption by around 30% while maintaining comfort across every sea state. Powered by twin MTU 4000 M63 engines, she reaches 15.5 knots with confidence.
Captain Mike Rouse, who oversaw her maiden voyage from the Netherlands to Monaco, shares how she handled: “Her sea-keeping ability was impressive,” he says. “We had calm seas and then some proper swells, and she just held steady. Everything – propulsion, systems – flawless. A remarkable debut for a world-class yacht.”
Later, over coffee on the bridge, I ask him about his favourite spot onboard: “I like sitting here in the morning, just looking out the windows. But I also think the beach club is very good – the spa, the steam shower, everything just works.”
That beach club becomes the afternoon’s playground. Jumping straight into azure waters off Èze-Sur-Mer, there’s laughter as the yacht’s toybox opens up for play, and we get to grips with Seabobs that dart like silver fish beneath the waves.
Lunch is served on the expansive upper deck. The yacht’s chef serves up culinary creations as artful as the vessel itself, while the French Riviera creates a stunning backdrop. Before disembarking, I steal a final moment in that glorious master suite. The late afternoon light sparkles rose-gold, reflections bouncing off the sea outside.
“The salons are beautiful,” Sylvia had told me earlier, “but in Agnetha, the most complete area is the master suite. You have two dressing rooms, drawers detailed for jewellery, and a private terrace. Even though the yacht can host twelve guests, in that suite you feel as if you’re on your own private island.”
Standing there, I understand. The stillness feels absolute, the craftsmanship divine.
The quiet revolution
Under Laurens Last’s ownership, Heesen is evolving, embracing innovation, sustainability and speed without losing the touch of the human hand. As mentioned, its Fast Displacement Hull reduces fuel consumption by around 30%, while hybrid systems promise silent cruising.
Yet the emotional language remains the same: precision, warmth, and experience that feels reassuring in a restless world. Agnetha embodies that balance. Built for blue-water passage yet composed and intimate enough for star-lit dinners at anchor.
As we step back onto the quay at Cala del Forte, her tinted glass catches the last light and holds it. While others strive for spectacle, Agnetha serves up grace and confidence. A haven in which to reconnect with those that matter most – and that, perhaps, is the ultimate luxury.
About the author
Rebecca McVeigh is a French Riviera-based travel writer and producer. She’s worked for the BBC,‘The Sunday Times’,
‘France Today’, and ‘Fodor’s’, among others. Head here for Rebecca’s take on the fine art and Riviera elegance of Saint-Paul de Vence.
