Amels was first established as a family boat-building business by founder Kees Amels. Located in a small yard in Makkum, northern Holland, the Amels yard went on to deliver around 100 vessels during the first half of the 20thcentury, specializing in wooden fishing boats and steel tugboats up to 65 feet (20m) in length. The second half of the 20thcentury saw Kees son, Wiebe Amels, move the yard with the view to building larger commercial vessels and coasters. The yard, which was located on the outside of the Ijssellake-dike on the Makkumerwaard, went on to become one of Holland’s largest shipyards. Seeing the private yacht sector taking shape during the late 1970s, Wiebe went on to diversify Amels’ shipbuilding skills to specialize in the build of high-value luxury yachts. In 1982 Amels launched the 158-foot (48m) motor yacht KATALINA, and the next decade saw several notable luxury yachts coming from the Amels yard. [links]