From August 20 to 24, SAIL is back in Amsterdam. This time it’s a triple celebration. It’s the 10^th edition of SAIL, the event is 50 years old, and the city is 750 years old.

First Edition in 1975

SAIL began in 1975 as a one-time event to celebrate the 700th anniversary of Amsterdam. Estimates vary, but roughly 550 to 850 larger and smaller ships participated. It was a great success. About 700,000 visitors came to see all the ships and tall ships from around the world. The atmosphere, the ships, the pride in the city, everything was perfect. A new tradition was born. Since then, SAIL has returned every 5 years, each time larger and more international.

Growing Larger and More Popular

In the 1980s, the event grew rapidly. In 1980, around 1 million visitors attended. In the 1990s and early 2000s, the number fluctuated around 1.5 million. The 2015 edition broke all records, with about 2.3 million visitors. SAIL 2020 was canceled due to the corona pandemic.

This year, SAIL returns bigger than ever with over 800 ships and tens of thousands of smaller boats. It is expected that 2.3 to 2.5 million visitors will attend SAIL 2025.

Notable Mentions of Ships Then and Now

• The Stad Amsterdam from the Netherlands is a well-known participant of SAIL. The ship has participated since its introduction in 2000, serving as flagship in 2005, 2010, and 2015. Other well-known ships that regularly participated include the Eendracht, Oosterschelde, Mir, Kruzenshtern, Christian Radich, Statsraad Lehmkuhl, Sagres, and Götheborg.
• Tall ships participating for the first time in 2025 include Shabab Oman II, Gorch Fock, B.A.P. Unión, Eye of the Wind, Amerigo Vespucci, Pascual Flores, and Vera Cruz.
• The ship with the largest crew so far is De Eendracht, a three-masted schooner from the Netherlands, with a crew of about 350 people.
• The largest ship ever at SAIL was the Sedov, a Russian four-masted ship, measuring 117.5 meters in length and a sail area of 4,192 square meters.
• The largest ship this year is likely the B.A.P. Unión. The ship of the Peruvian navy is approximately 115.5 meters long, about 13.5 meters wide, and has a sail area of around 3,400 square meters. The B.A.P. Unión is the largest sailing ship in Latin America.

SAIL-in and SAIL-out Parade

SAIL 2025 begins on Wednesday, August 20, with the arrival of the ships, the SAIL-in parade. In a long procession, the tall ships and historical ships sail from IJmuiden through the North Sea Canal into the city. Good spots to view this from the shore are the Oranjesluizen near Zeeburg or IJburg. Java Island, Piet Heinkade, or the NDSM Wharf are also good spots, although it is often busier there. On Sunday, August 24, around 2:00 PM, the ships will depart again towards the sea with loud horn blasts.

On Shore

Of course, SAIL 2025 is primarily about visiting the moored ships. But there is also plenty to experience on shore. At the Oosterdok, there is an impressive installation by photographer Jimmy Nelson featuring gigantic portraits of crew members from all over the world. There are music stages, street performances, food trucks, and art. Children can participate in sailing clinics or the famous Pieremachocheltocht, a funny parade of self-built boats. In the evenings, there are light shows and fireworks above the water.

Preview: the ARA Libertad

From Sunday, August 10 to Thursday, August 14, the ARA Libertad from Argentina will dock at the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA) in the IJhaven. Visitors are welcome every day from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM to admire this impressive Argentine training ship up close and get in the mood for SAIL.

More

• The SAIL area is the area in and around the IJhaven in Amsterdam. This is where the ships dock and most festivities take place.
• The SAIL terrain is open from Wednesday, August 20 to Sunday, August 24, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
• For more information, a handy map, and the complete program of SAIL, you can visit #SAIL2025: United by Waves