Habbeké Shipyard, established in 1966, has fifty years experience of quality shipbuilding. The wharf builds exclusively in aluminium, and enjoys an excellent reputation for innovation, quality and service. These characteristics were recognised and honoured when Habbeké was awarded the Dutch Aluminium Prize in 1994. One of the key factors in the yard’s success is its commitment to working with the client and the designer. This has resulted in many long-term relationships with individual and institutional customers. Some individuals have ordered three vessels from the yard but the longest association is with KNRM (The Royal Dutch Lifeboat Association). As befits vessels, which have to perform in sea conditions where other boats prefer to be in harbour, Valentijns are built to the highest quality and are therefore subject to the American Bureau of Shipping quality guidelines. In fact all Habbeké products are built to stringent quality controls and the yard recommends that their products be registered with national and international safety organisations such as the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) or Lloyds. Habbeké has built some 18 Valentijn RIB lifeboats for the KNRM; and is now actively expanding the range in cooperation with the architects De Vries Lentsch. A series of “Valentijn-like” vessels have been built such as the HP 700 a Rapid Response Salvage Vessel and the new Crew Tender, developed and built in close cooperation with the KRVE – “De Roeiers”. The wharf builds in Volendam and has separate repair and completion shed in the nearby town of Edam with water frontage and lifting facilities in contact with the Ijsselmeer and from there to the North Sea via Ijmuiden and Amsterdam or Den Oever.