The largest free event in the Netherlands and the biggest nautical event in Europe is SAIL Amsterdam. More than 600 ships travel through the North Sea Canal once every five years, docking in and near IJ Harbour. We will prepare to see SAIL Amsterdam in 2025.
Under the name “Sail Amsterdam 700,” the celebration of Amsterdam’s 700th anniversary was first held in 1975. In 2015, it will take place from August 19 through August 23.
SAIL Amsterdam is a celebration of harmony and reverence for what sailing means to the world as a means of living and taking pleasure in the oceans and all they have to offer. The city of Amsterdam and the communities surrounding the North Sea Canal come together for this occasion, forming a solid base of support for this magnificent global gathering.
Attending SAIL Amsterdam and getting to board one of the tall ships is the highlight. There are many options, but I would have to say that the Belem is the best. The Belem has a distinguished past; she was once employed to transport sugar from the West Indies as well as cocoa and coffee from Brazil, and she even survived a volcanic eruption. She is currently employed as a sail training ship.
2025 SAIL Amsterdam
Starts: Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Ends: Sunday, August 24, 2025
We heartily recommend SAIL Amsterdam 2025 if you’re looking for something to do in Amsterdam in August 2025. This event will take place in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, from Wednesday, August 20, to Sunday, August 24, 2025, according to the official organizer.
More than ten tall ships are anticipated to participate in SAIL Amsterdam 2025.
The SAIL In Parade, which formally ushers in the event, is first on our lengthy list of must-see highlights. This isn’t just any parade, though; the previous one included a 12-kilometer parade in which more than 50 tall ships approached Amsterdam alongside a number of military vessels and thousands (yes, thousands) of other smaller vessels of all ages and classes. Don’t miss it! Over the years, we have witnessed numerous parades at numerous tall ship events, but this is the only one where we can guarantee that you will struggle to see past the water and not the ships themselves.
Moving on to the main event, you’ll probably discover that the festival grounds are so large that they are divided into themed areas called “Oceans.” The main Ocean in 2015 was the area near IJhaven Quay, one of five themed Oceans. Since the initial edition in 1975, this has been the center of SAIL Amsterdam. It’s where you’ll go to see live music performances and kid-friendly activities (both on and off the water), it’s where you’ll go to see breathtaking fireworks every night, and – perhaps most importantly – it’s where you’ll go to step aboard nearly all of the participating tall ships or to see them from the water aboard one of the many tours that are certain to be on offer.
Of course, no trip to Amsterdam would be complete without a thorough exploration of the city’s center, and there is no better time to immerse yourself in this incredible city’s culture than during SAIL Amsterdam. This event’s potential for cultural and educational advancement has increased since the establishment of SAIL Amsterdam Foundation in 2012. With partnerships between the event and a number of important attractions, neighborhood businesses, and other organizations, the city center itself was transformed into one of the thematic Oceans in 2015, creating a uniquely memorable visitor experience throughout the entire city.
In addition to the aforementioned, there was an Ocean centered around sustainability, technology, and innovation (a highlight of which in 2015 was the opportunity to tour the Team Brunel Volvo Ocean Race entrant), an Ocean centered around entertainment, food, and relaxation (which evolved into a festival in its own right, targeted at the younger generation), and an Ocean centered around business that included important debates and even the Captain’s Dinner at the National Maritime Museum.
It is still unclear how much of the aforementioned will appear in this edition, but you can count on many of the more frequent activities that SAIL Amsterdam has become known for, like the crew parade. If you’re hosting guests, there will undoubtedly be plenty of hospitality opportunities available as well, many of which will be available aboard a number of the participating tall ships.
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