Enjoying the best seafaring experience while simultaneously contributing to the sustainability cause? Yes, please! PT Tampubolon Sloep Dutch Desain understands your needs for boats and your desire to help protect the environment.
Indonesia Expat recently had a chat with Darta and Ilse Tampubolon, who are the founders of the Bandung-based boat design and construction firm, PT Tampubolon Sloep Dutch Desain. The two discussed, among many things, why their firm is always keen on understanding the customer’s needs by customising each boat, why their boats are not what one would call ‘off-the-shelf’, the unique joy of being on the water with the best boat possible, and how the firm also pays attention to sustainability and environmental impact.
Hi, Darta and Ilse Tampubolon. Let’s get started with a little introduction. What can you tell our readers about yourselves?
We met on board a Holland America cruise ship and then moved to the Netherlands, where we lived from 2007 to 2024. Darta is Indonesian, whereas Ilse is Dutch. Darta studied Marine Engineering in Rotterdam and worked on various ships until he became a chief engineer. In 2016, he switched to working on yachts and boats on land, overseeing building, repairs, and services.
Ilse has lived in different countries across Europe and Australia. She has worked mostly in tourism—as a travel rep, ski instructor, and on cruise ships. Before moving to Indonesia, she booked luxury trips for American Express Centurion clients.
We’ve always loved being on the water and sailing, so in February 2024, we decided to start our own company. We chose Indonesia as our home and brought our three kids along. We teamed up with Ilse’s cousin, Michiel, from vanvossentenders.nl in the Netherlands, who designs and builds tenders and sloepen. We moved to Indonesia in December 2024 and started building our first T-Sloep here. It’s been an exciting new adventure for us!
Can you guys explain a little bit what exactly your company, PT Tampubolon Sloep Dutch Desain, manufactures, including, if any, additional services that the company also provides?
As our name suggests, our boats feature classic Dutch design. They’re aluminium boats styled like the traditional ‘sloep’ from the Netherlands. Originally, these wooden sloepen were used to transport goods from large ships through shallow canals to warehouses.
Michiel van Vossen designs each boat according to the client’s wishes. His boats are built in Europe, while ours are manufactured here in Asia. This allows us to create custom, unique boats that are also very stable on the water. In addition to boat building, Darta has extensive experience servicing yacht engines from his time in the Netherlands. He’s familiar with popular brands like Volvo Penta, Yanmar, Nanni, Lombardini, and more. He also handles water pumps, electrical systems, bilge pumps, and winches. If you need a reliable and knowledgeable engineer for your yacht, Darta is ready to assist with any issue.
From your perspective, especially in comparison to similar enterprises and firms out there, what makes the boat design, as well as boat construction, by PT Tampubolon Sloep Dutch Desain stand apart?
Until now, this type of boat wasn’t available in Indonesia—but that’s changed! Our boats feature a classic Dutch design, perfect for the ocean, shallow coastal waters, lakes, and rivers. The unique U-shaped seating layout allows passengers to face each other, creating a more social and enjoyable experience for family and friends. We don’t build ‘off-the-shelf’ boats. Instead, we take the time to understand your needs and customise each boat. Whether it’s for fishing, waterskiing, diving, family recreation, rental businesses, or even as a professional workboat for police or water patrol, we’ll build the right boat for you.
What encouraged you guys to establish PT Tampubolon Sloep Dutch Desain in Bandung?
After living in the Netherlands for so long and getting used to cold weather, Bandung just felt like the right place, even for Darta. The evenings here are nice and cool, and everything is so green and peaceful. Our business is in Bandung, but we ourselves live close to Padalarang. We wanted somewhere easy to settle into, with water nearby and a calm vibe. Plus, the Whoosh high-speed train makes it super easy to get to Jakarta, where our other family lives.
Moreover, which market segmentation are you guys eyeing in your business operation—and why?
Being on the water is so relaxing—it connects you with nature and lets you breathe fresh, clean air. We want to bring this experience to Indonesia without sacrificing the comfort you’re used to, like USB charging, cupholders, and music. Why shouldn’t your boat have the same conveniences as your car? Meanwhile, for watersport companies interested in selling our boats, we also offer a basic version. This lets them customise the boat for their clients—adding engines, cushions, and more—while keeping the classic Dutch design intact.
From what I’ve gathered so far, one of the key characteristics of the boats by PT Tampubolon Sloep Dutch Desain is how they embody “customised and tailored luxury”. Can you guys elaborate a little bit about that element and how it may enhance the customer’s seafaring experience?
How our boats are designed makes all the difference in your time on the water. Their unique design makes them stable and comfortable, no matter which model you choose. Depending on what you want to use your boat for, we can customise the interior with features like fishing rod holders, oxygen tanks, navigation systems, fishfinders, and more. Want a small fridge to keep your drinks cold? A folding table and comfy cushions? A place to sleep? Maybe a swim platform? We’ve got you covered.
I’ve also gathered that, for naviphiles out there looking to procure a boat sturdy enough for waterskiing as well as an oceanic exploration, PT Tampubolon Sloep Dutch Desain also offers what you guys call “Sporty Tenders”. Can you guys explain what that is and what makes it different from regular boats?
Our Sport Tenders are designed to handle oceans, large lakes, rivers, and even shallow coastal waters. They’re powerful and agile, built for top performance but without sacrificing stability. Thanks to the hull design that reduces friction, fuel consumption stays surprisingly low; this way, you get efficiency along with speed.
How do you guys make sure that your boats also conform to sustainability-related necessities? Does such consideration also affect the materials needed to construct these boats?
We build our boats with aluminium to give you something strong, durable, and low maintenance. Aluminium boats are sturdy but lightweight, which means they last a long time and are easy to take care of. The marine-grade aluminium we use is rust and corrosion-resistant, so you can safely use your boat in both freshwater and saltwater.
Our aluminium boats need very little maintenance compared to wood or polyester boats. Plus, all the aluminium used is 100% recyclable, which helps reduce your carbon footprint significantly. Additionally, by building these boats locally in Indonesia, you avoid the high costs and environmental impact of importing from Europe or the Netherlands. It also supports the local economy by working with local businesses and workers.
PT Tampubolon Sloep Dutch Desain
- WhatsApp: +62 81 1111 69669 (Darta)
- Instagram: @tsloep_bandung
- Email: dartatampubolon@outlook.com
- Website: www.tampubolonsloep.com