About Sail 2025
Wind in the sails
Since 1975, Tall Ships from all over the world have been coming to Amsterdam every five years. SAIL was first organized by the Amsterdam port as a celebration for the city's 700th anniversary. Thanks to its enormous success, it was decided to repeat this event every five years. Over the years, SAIL has grown into the largest open-access event in the Netherlands. In 2025, we will celebrate the 750th anniversary of our capital, the 50th anniversary of SAIL, and the 10th edition of the world's largest nautical event.
About the triple jubilee
Much to Celebrate!
In 1975, SAIL was organized for the first time to honor the 700th anniversary of our capital city. So, in 2025, it’s a double celebration: 750 years of Amsterdam and 50 years of SAIL. But that’s not all! In 2020, SAIL was postponed due to the pandemic, moving the 10th anniversary edition to 2025. A triple celebration, indeed! And we are going to celebrate it in a special way! In the year our capital celebrates its 750th birthday, SAIL is the moment to welcome people from all over the world! A festival on water and shore, for and by 'Netherlands Waterland' with inspiring wavemakers!
A SAILING FESTIVAL FOR THE 700TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY OF AMSTERDAM
History
Since 1975, Tall Ships from all over the world have been coming to Amsterdam every five years. SAIL was first organized by the Amsterdam port as a celebration for the city's 700th anniversary. Thanks to its enormous success, it was decided to repeat this event every five years. Over the years, SAIL has grown into the largest freely accessible event in the Netherlands. In 2025, we will celebrate the 750th anniversary of our capital, the 50th anniversary of SAIL, and the 10th edition of the world's largest nautical event.
The first edition of SAIL
1975
From Friday, August 15 to Monday, August 18, the Port of Amsterdam contributed to the celebration of the capital's 700th anniversary. They did this through a sailing event called 'SAIL Amsterdam 700'. 18 large and more than 500 smaller training ships, plus a vast fleet of old Dutch round and flat-bottomed ships, gathered that weekend on the IJ in Amsterdam. This revived the port's image from earlier times: "When proud East Indiamen, tjalks, barges, and skûtsjes from inland shipping and the fishing fleet of the former Zuiderzee brought us hope." It was unique at that moment: so many large sailing ships, varying in size from a few hundred tons to 6,000 tons, all in one port as was the case during SAIL Amsterdam 700. Additionally, a large number of smaller sailing ships also came to Amsterdam. Various events were organized on and around the IJ throughout the weekend.
Mayor: Dr. I Samkalden, Number of visitors: 700,000, Weather: 20 degrees Celsius
The second edition of SAIL
1980
"An armada of windjammers in Amsterdam, the glory of sailing revived on the IJ." Ships in the Port of Amsterdam relive the glory of a bygone era, a time when hundreds of imposing sailing ships regularly visited our country. This event is a repeat of the grand maritime manifestation from five years ago: SAIL Amsterdam 700. With SAIL Amsterdam 700, the attention of the entire world (and enthusiastic spectators) was focused on the Port of Amsterdam. SAIL 1980 is even larger in scope and more impressive. In his speech, the then-mayor said: “Love for the old ship and perseverance are characteristic of their skippers. It is solely their merit that the old Dutch ship types have not yet disappeared and can still be admired here, during SAIL Amsterdam, in all their glory.” During the 1980 edition, more than 1,000 sailing ships with over 10,000 crew members came to the Port of Amsterdam.
Mayor: W. Polak, Number of visitors: 1,000,000, Weather: 19 degrees Celsius
The third edition of SAIL
1985
In the seventeenth century, Amsterdam was one of the world's most important centres. From the stately merchant houses along the canals, global trade was controlled. The Port of Amsterdam saw a constant flow of merchant ships facilitating trade with all corners of the earth. For the third time in ten years, Amsterdam will be the centre of an international event that revives this magnificent past: SAIL Amsterdam. Two projects make SAIL particularly special this year: plans for the construction of a true Dutch windjammer and the building of an authentic VOC ship on the SAIL grounds. After SAIL '75 and SAIL '80, SAIL Amsterdam '85 promises to break all records and grow into one of the largest sailing events in the world.
Mayor: E. van Thijn, Number of visitors: 1.4 million, Weather: 19 degrees Celsius
The fourth edition of SAIL
1990
A celebration held in 1970 to mark seven centuries of Amsterdam has since grown into a world-class top ten event. Surrounded by water, with its monumental buildings and rich history, our capital once again becomes the stage for a nautical spectacle featuring authentic ships every five years. SAIL Amsterdam is now organized by a professionally staffed SAIL office and made possible through financial support from sponsors. It is on its way to becoming a tradition within the world of sailors and maritime history enthusiasts.
Mayor: E. van Thijn, Number of visitors: 1.6 million, Weather: 26 degrees Celsius
The Fifth Edition of SAIL
1995
"Five days of spectacular festivities in the Amsterdam harbour." This catchy slogan announced SAIL Amsterdam '95 in the media. Blessed with splendid weather, SAIL Amsterdam '95 was held from Thursday, August 10th to Monday, August 14th. With a total of 8,000 crew members on more than 1,000 ships and around four million visitors, SAIL was the grand, spectacular public festival. Windjammers and dinghies, steamboats and skûtsjes, dragon boats and wherries—everything that could float was part of SAIL. SAIL Amsterdam '95, the largest maritime event in the world, made the port of Amsterdam the busiest port in the world for five days. The festival, with its freely accessible nature, could be relived in five years. Because for SAIL 2000, Amsterdam is ready.
Mayor: S. Patijn, Number of visitors: 1.6 million, Weather: 26 degrees Celsius
The Sixth Edition of SAIL
2000
SAIL Amsterdam has a reputation to uphold: being the largest public festival in the Netherlands. SAIL not only faces competition from popular sports like football and ice skating but also from itself. Each edition of SAIL aims to be bigger than the previous one, in terms of the number of ships, visitors, and participating organizations. And it succeeds. Each SAIL edition spends more and attracts more, not necessarily in terms of revenue, as SAIL remains freely accessible. SAIL becomes richer in imagination, energy, and daring with each edition. That is the strength of SAIL. This is felt by the hundreds of thousands of visitors along the North Sea Canal, on the quays of the Amsterdam harbour, and on the decks of the moored Tall Ships and the traditional fleet.
Mayor: S. Patijn, Number of visitors: 2.4 million, Weather: 22 degrees Celsius
The Seventh Edition of SAIL
2005
"People travel the world in search of friendships, but what they need can be found at home." Under the motto "Enjoy a world of friendships," SAIL Amsterdam 2005 will bring to life not only the rich maritime history but also the connection of worlds and cultures. For the seventh time, our capital will be the home port of one of the most impressive maritime events in the world. This year highlights international friendships. Amsterdam is a city where hospitality, tolerance, and understanding have been fundamental for centuries. SAIL Amsterdam 2005 will once again demonstrate this from Wednesday, August 17th to Monday, August 22nd.
Mayor: M. J. Cohen, Number of visitors: 2.6 million, Weather: 24 degrees Celsius
The Eighth Edition of SAIL
2010
After five years, enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting SAIL 2010. From Thursday, August 19th to Monday, August 23rd, the unparalleled nautical festival will burst into life. Amsterdam will be brimming with activities related to sailing and boating, from the unique pieremachochel parade to the impressive Tall Ships. The board of the SAIL Amsterdam Foundation is once again looking forward to the 'magnificent chaos' that the event will unleash. Thanks to the police, safety on the water will be ensured.
Mayor: E. van der Laan, Number of visitors: 1.7 million, Weather: 24 degrees Celsius
The Ninth Edition of SAIL
2015
SAIL Amsterdam 2015 needed innovation to attract new audiences and make the event more relevant: "From Golden Past to Golden Future." In collaboration with SAIL Event Partners, the SAIL Amsterdam Foundation developed a new concept for the 2015 edition, which proved to be a great success. The SAIL area was significantly expanded and divided into five 'oceans,' each with its own theme. Spanning from the IJ, near the head of the KNSM Island, to the NDSM Wharf in the east, visitors enjoyed Tall Ships, unique concerts by well-known artists, innovative technology, and various tours and exhibitions. Additionally, the 9th edition of SAIL, with the help of #SAIL2015, became the largest online event of the year!
Mayor: E. van der Laan, Number of visitors: 2.3 million, Weather: 25 degrees Celsius
The Tenth Edition of SAIL
2025
A Jubilee! SAIL Amsterdam 2025 is the 10th edition of the largest freely accessible event in the Netherlands. In the summer of 2025, the spectacular Tall Ships from all corners of the globe will once again come to Amsterdam, under the motto: "SAIL connects the whole world." The 10th edition of SAIL was originally scheduled for 2020. Following the necessary measures to combat the coronavirus, this is now possible. Read more
Mayor: F. Halsema, Number of visitors: unknown, Weather: unknown
The project team of SAIL Amsterdam
Meet the dedicated and enthusiastic staff of SAIL Amsterdam 2025. The various teams will be expanded with knowledge and expertise in the lead-up to SAIL. Additionally, the support of over 2,000 volunteers is indispensable in making SAIL a success!
Floor Elbertse
Casper Schins
Yoël Schuller
Silvie Tromp
Arjan van der meer
Fatih Kahyaoglu
Margrit Bosch
Chris Janssen
Elisabeth de Jong
Alvin Williams
SAIL Amsterdam foundation
After the success of the first SAIL in 1975, it was decided to organize the event once every five years. To manage the organization effectively, SAIL Amsterdam Foundation was established in 1977.
Arie Jan de Waard
Ms. Marjolein H.T. Jansen, MSc
Director General of Spatial Planning
Mr. Eng. Bart Parmet
Director at the province of Overijssel
Mr. Pedro R.G. Stunnenberg, MBA
Deputy Director of Materiel, Environment, Real Estate, and Sustainability at the Ministry of Defence
Mitra van Raalten
SAIL Amsterdam Foundation
Mr. Morris Nieuwenhuis
Communications Advisor for Social Media, Royal Netherlands Navy
Robert Visser
SAIL Amsterdam Foundation
Contact
Let's keep in touch
The largest freely accessible event in the Netherlands, as well as all projects organized by SAIL, are made possible only through collaboration and support from partners and funds. Curious about how you can contribute or do you have a question? Please feel free to get in touch; we're here to assist you!