The tenth edition of SAIL Amsterdam concluded on Sunday 24 August with the SAIL-Out Parade towards IJmuiden. For five days, the Dutch capital was the stage for thousands of ships, camaraderie on water and quaysides, and international encounters. Around 2.5 million people visited the event.
Under the theme United by Waves, this year’s SAIL marked a triple jubilee: ten editions, fifty years of SAIL, and Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary. International crews described the welcome as unforgettable.
Commanding Officer Issa Aljahwari of Shabab Oman II, who bid farewell to the ship after the event, said: ‘I can step ashore with peace of mind, this was an experience beyond compare. The international sailing family was welcomed with open arms, Amsterdam has given ‘United by Waves’ a face.’
Also read: VIDEO: SAIL Amsterdam kicks off with SAIL-In Parade
Royal visits
The atmosphere along the IJ and in the harbour areas was described as festive and welcoming. Visitors praised the relaxed, international spirit. The highlight was Wednesday’s SAIL-In Parade, with thousands of ships sailing into the city, accompanied by a fly-by of fighter jets and helicopters. King Willem-Alexander joined aboard the Groene Draeck.
Patron Prince Maurits opened the event from the Clipper Stad Amsterdam and attended various activities, including the Admiral’s Sail on Sunday morning with his wife Princess Marilène and their family. Members of the Royal Family were widely represented throughout the event, including Princess Beatrix, Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien, and Princess Mabel with her family.
Programmes such as the Pieremachocheltocht, Crew Parade, SAIL On Stage, the evening show Waves of Light and 200 other free activities brought visitors and participants closer together.
25,000 visitors in one day for HNLMS Karel Doorman
Crowds packed the quays to admire the Tall Ships, other vessels and their crews. During the SAIL-In Parade, the waters were filled with thousands of boats and spectators lined the shores. The same scenes continued across the city in the following days, from Oosterdok and NDSM Wharf to Overhoeks and the Marineterrein (naval base).
Saturday proved to be the busiest SAIL day in the event’s history, with HNLMS Karel Doorman alone attracting 25,000 visitors in a single day. Attendance exceeded 2015 levels, with organisers and the city estimating a total of 2.5 million visitors for SAIL 2025 — the largest free event in the Netherlands. This was made possible thanks to over fifty partners and more than 2500 volunteers.
Arie Jan de Waard, outgoing chairman of Stichting SAIL Amsterdam, said: ‘The triple jubilee of SAIL shows how deeply this event is rooted in the city, the entire country, and in people’s hearts. For me personally, this was a wonderful conclusion to my chairmanship: an edition where history, the future and international friendship came together.’
Picture: The SAIL-In Parade on 20 August (photo by Fitchd, Martijn van Leeuwen).
Also read: SAIL Amsterdam 2025 is almost here
