The story of VBH begins long before the company's official establishment in 1985. It traces back to 1919, when J.P. van Berge Henegouwen founded an electrical store in Leiden (1) , initially focusing on lighting and heating installations. When J.P. passed away at just 40 years of age, Marie, his wife continued the business with support from their sons, Loe and Jacques van Berge Henegouwen.
During World War II, when communication equipment was banned by the occupying forces and their entire shop inventory was confiscated, the family survived by repairing radios for farmers, often being paid in butter, potatoes, and wheat. After the war, Loe and Jacques rebuilt the business, expanding into television sales and antenna installations in the 1950s.
In 1963, through his acquaintance with the Van Lent family (founders of the prestigious Feadship), Jacques achieved a historic innovation: installing the first (car) radio on a yacht (2), pioneering the adaptation of such technology for marine use.
This single installation marked the beginning of a decades-long relationship with the superyacht industry. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, Jacques continued installing electronics on Feadship yachts, gradually bringing his son Arthur into the business to "help dad." What began as a side project for the family's retail store would eventually transform the superyacht industry.
"I was never really afraid" Arthur recalls of his early modifications to marine audio equipment. While others worried about voiding warranties, Arthur saw opportunity in adaptation. When speakers rusted and failed in marine environments, he didn't accept limitations—he created solutions by treating cones with special varnish and replacing vulnerable components with marine-grade alternatives (3).
This spirit became the company’s foundation when Van Berge Henegouwen Installaties BV was officially established in 1985. At a time when yacht entertainment specifications occupied “probably not more than five or six lines” in build documents, VBH began creating entirely new categories of marine technology.
Back then, no technology was made specifically for yachts. The concept of marine tech as a dedicated industry didn’t really exist. VBH stood out by consistently taking solutions designed for other industries—hi-fi, automotive, aerospace—and adapting them with precision to the realities of life at sea. “From the moment we created something new,” Arthur recalls, “it became the new standard for the Yachting industry.”
Arthur's philosophy was simple but revolutionary: "There's never 'No,' it's always 'Yes, if...' It's a matter of time and money, but in principle, everything is possible." This mindset drove VBH to solve problems others wouldn't attempt.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, VBH continuously identified challenges before clients even recognized them as problems. When yachts struggled with terrestrial TV reception in changing orientations and locations, VBH collaborated with "Tubeman" (4) to create omnidirectional antennas. When these proved insufficient in archipelagos like Greece, they developed directional-switching technology to eliminate signal interference (5).
This pattern repeated across technologies—from creating waterproof volume controls for outdoor areas to designing infrared repeaters that allowed control of equipment hidden behind cabinetry. Arthur's motto said it all: "Miracles ready while you wait. The impossible, one day longer!"
This approach, combined with VBH’s reputation for reliability, rapidly made the company the go-to technology integrator for leading European shipyards. What began with Feadship quickly expanded to include Oceanco, Vitters, Heesen, Royal Huisman, Abeking & Rasmussen, and Lürssen—cementing VBH’s role as the trusted partner for cutting-edge integration across the continent, and scaling the company from a 10-person workshop into a 100-strong innovation powerhouse.
As technology evolved, so did VBH's approach. The 1990s saw a transformation from local equipment in each cabin to sophisticated centralized systems. This fundamental shift—first implemented fully in the Feadship Charade (6) —created the template for modern integrated yacht systems.
"Moving into the 90s and early 2000s, we started to create more centralized systems," Arthur recalls. "All the equipment in one location, with proper cooling. In all the rooms, you only had a control panel, a screen, and speakers."
By 2004, VBH had pioneered streaming video (7) when commercial solutions like Kaleidescape didn't yet exist. "It was a nightmare, but we managed it!" Arthur says with pride. Within three years, they had implemented the first iPhone control application—just as the smartphone revolution was beginning.
While audio-visual expertise provided the foundation, VBH's innovation soon expanded to encompass every aspect of yacht technology. Security innovations adapted aerospace technology for marine applications, with stress sensors from F-16 fighter jets repurposed to detect unauthorized boarding.
"We were always looking at technologies from other industries and imagining how they could solve yacht problems," Arthur explains, describing how VBH spotted aerospace stress sensors at a technology exhibition. "When we saw those F-16 wing sensors measuring forces to prevent structural damage during extreme maneuvers, we immediately thought, 'This could revolutionize onboard security!' Innovation often comes from making unexpected connections between different worlds."
Lighting control evolved from simple automation to sophisticated mood settings and RGB capabilities. Control systems progressed from remote controls to comprehensive touch interfaces and eventually to zero-latency frameworks managing every yacht system.
When Arthur sold VBH in 2008 to Imtech, it marked the beginning of a new chapter. Operating as part of Imtech and later the RH Marine Group, VBH continued to expand its global reach and technological capabilities. This corporate backing enabled the company to accelerate its pace of innovation in the changing technological landscape.
The innovation timeline during this period is impressive. In 2008, VBH created the first web-based CCTV feed on WiFi (8) and installed the first DJ booth on a yacht (9). By 2010, they had pioneered integrated iPad control and introduced high-end integrated speakers (10). The years that followed brought breakthroughs like the first custom-made guest information portal in 2011 (11), an interactive engine room application and the first interactive elevator on a 100+m Feadship yacht (2015).
As technology evolved, so did VBH's focus on control and security. They implemented the first remote monitoring and support system (2015), introduced the first food ordering system platform for onboard guests (2016), and developed the first comprehensive cybersecurity solution for yachts (2019).
In 2019, Jeroen van den Hurk joined the company, bringing a visionary approach shaped by his extensive experience in high-tech development and global technology leadership. His passion for integrating luxury technology with lifestyle enhancement aligned perfectly with VBH's innovative legacy. Building on this vision, Jeroen led a management buyout in June 2022, when the team acquired the shares in VBH, marking a new chapter in the company's storied history.
Under Jeroen's leadership, VBH has evolved its approach to what he calls "Design and Digital Integration", a philosophy that builds directly on Arthur's legacy of solving problems through innovation.
This vision emerged from recognizing yacht owners' frustrations with visible technology disrupting the aesthetic harmony of their vessels. Just as Arthur had previously transformed F-16 fighter jet technology into deck security sensors, VBH continued this tradition of cross-industry innovation by drawing inspiration from the automotive sector. Observing how car dashboards had evolved from complex arrays of buttons to elegant, intuitive interfaces, Jeroen created the "Invisible Technology" concept, ensuring that displays and controls are completely invisible when not in use, yet instantly available when needed.
"Luxury is not just about what you see—it's about how you feel in a space," explains Jeroen. "Technology, when done right, should enhance that feeling without ever becoming intrusive."
This cross-industry innovation approach extends beyond product design to service delivery as well. Looking to Formula One racing teams—where performance, efficiency, and minimal downtime are essential—VBH created their innovative "Pitstop" service approach in 2024. Just as racing teams optimize vehicle performance through quick, regular maintenance stops, VBH's Pitstop service offers yacht owners a way to stay current with the latest technology while reducing costs, downtime, and carbon footprint.
From aerospace to automotive, VBH consistently takes what other industries have best and creates remarkable innovations like MicroLED walls, holographic projections, voice-controlled interfaces, audio, video, and control embedded seamlessly in natural materials, and — debuting at this year’s Monaco Yacht Show — a revolutionary new concept called “Immersia.”. This ability to reimagine technologies from other sectors for the yachting environment has become a defining characteristic of the company's innovation approach.
Throughout all these changes, VBH's collaborative approach remains constant. As Jeroen puts it: "In a market where many focus solely on the technical 'how,' we focus on the 'why' and 'how it feels' for the end-user."
From J.P. van Berge Henegouwen's electrical store in 1919 to today's cutting-edge Design and Digital Integration solutions, VBH's century-long journey has been defined by a consistent approach to innovation. What Jacques started by bringing audio technology (car radio) to yachts in 1963 and Arthur developed with his fearless approach to modification in the 80s has now evolved into a global leader in superyacht technology integration.
The company's spirit of innovation, creativity, and love for technology has remained constant through family ownership, corporate backing, and now an independent management-led structure. The founding philosophy "Everything is possible, always" continues to inspire VBH's approach, now expressed in their current mantra: "Innovate. Integrate. Inspire."
As superyachts grow larger and more sophisticated, VBH's legacy of innovation ensures the company remains at the forefront of marine technology—creating experiences where technology becomes an almost invisible part of daily life onboard, always present but never disruptive, perfectly aligned with the elegance and luxury that define the superyacht experience.
