Jan Jaap Minnema | Senior Yacht Broker at Fraser Yachts
Jan 27, 2026
Jan Jaap Minnema is a senior sales broker at Fraser Yachts, based in Monaco. With nearly 25 years of experience in the superyacht industry, he is widely respected for his calm judgement, market insight, and long-term approach to client relationships.
Growing up in the Netherlands, Jan Jaap was practically raised on the water. Dutch seafaring heritage runs deep — this is a country that built itself by pushing back the sea, that sent trading ships to every corner of the globe, that still leads the world in maritime engineering.
For Jan Jaap, boats were never just objects. They were connections to something larger: family traditions, national identity, the fundamental human relationship with the ocean.
His professional journey didn't begin in a brokerage office. It began aboard large sailing ships, where he learned seamanship the old-fashioned way — with rope in his hands and wind in his face. You can't fake that kind of knowledge. When Jan Jaap talks about a vessel's handling characteristics or sea-keeping ability, he's speaking from experience. Clients sense it immediately.
That hands-on foundation led him to yacht brokerage, where his Dutch connections proved invaluable. The Netherlands is home to some of the world's most prestigious shipyards: Feadship, Heesen, Amels, Royal Hakvoort. Jan Jaap built relationships with all of them — not as a salesman, but as someone who genuinely understood and appreciated their craft.
The Monaco Base
From Fraser's Monaco office, Jan Jaap now works with buyers and sellers worldwide. Monaco offers unique advantages for a yacht broker: it's the industry's spiritual capital, the place where deals are made and relationships maintained, where the world's most discerning clients come to see and be seen.
The 89m new build he sold in Asia was a record-breaking transaction — the kind of deal that requires not just market knowledge, but the ability to navigate complex negotiations across cultures and time zones.
His four submarine sales demonstrate something else entirely: no vessel type is beyond his expertise. When clients have unusual requirements, Jan Jaap finds solutions.
Fraser's Biggest 2024 Sale
In 2024, Jan Jaap represented the buyer in the sale of Amels 80 Hull #04 — an 80-metre hybrid superyacht scheduled for 2027 delivery. At 2,175 GT, featuring innovative hybrid technology, an expansive beach club, a main-deck pool, and interiors by Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design, the vessel represents the cutting edge of what superyachts can be.
The transaction was Fraser's largest of the year. Jan Jaap worked alongside colleague Stuart Larsen, with exterior lines by Espen Øino and engineering by Damen Yachting ensuring the yacht will deliver both performance and sustainability.
"Scheduled for delivery in 2027, Amels 80 #04 represents the first Damen Yachting new build sold this year and stands as the largest yacht sold by Fraser in 2024 so far," the company announced.
His current portfolio continues at the same level: a 65-metre Royal Hakvoort new build, a 50-metre Sanlorenzo X-Space, a 52-metre Bilgin — each representing a different vision of what a yacht can be, each requiring a broker who can match vessel to client with precision.
"He is efficient, trustworthy and a true yachting professional." A client testimonial — and the standard Jan Jaap has maintained for nearly 25 years.
The Long Game
In yacht brokerage, reputations are built over decades. Jan Jaap has been at Fraser for nearly 25 years, completing more than 100 transactions. That longevity tells a story.
He has watched first-time buyers become repeat clients. He has guided families through generational transfers of beloved vessels. He has maintained relationships with shipyards through market cycles, through ownership changes, through the complete transformation of the industry.
"Not only the presentation and choice of materials are stunning," one industry partner notes of working with him, "also the time and budget are always under control."
That combination — aesthetic appreciation plus operational discipline — defines his approach. He knows what clients want; he also knows what they need. And he's willing to tell them when those things are different.
At Superyacht Investor London 2025, Jan Jaap participated in the "Broking for Gold" panel, sharing insights on how brokers and new builds interact, how to bridge the gap between buyer and seller, and whether selling through a broker remains the best approach.
It's why clients describe Jan Jaap as: "Efficient." "Trustworthy." "A true yachting professional." "Knows the industry inside and out."
Industry Recognition
Jan Jaap's career speaks through achievements:
Senior Sales Broker, Fraser Yachts Monaco — nearly 25 years
100+ successful transactions including yachts and submarines
Fraser's largest 2024 sale — Amels 80 Hull #04
Jan Jaap Minnema doesn't advertise his submarine sales. He doesn't need to. His track record speaks quietly but unmistakably: nearly 25 years, 100+ transactions, relationships with the world's finest shipyards, and clients who return decade after decade. In a market increasingly driven by digital marketing and social media presence, his success proves something important: in yacht brokerage, there's still no substitute for expertise, integrity, and the patience to build relationships that last.
Learn more about Jan Jaap on his personal website here: https://janjaapminnema.com
