SAIL Amsterdam 2025 welcomes over 800 ships to the IJ harbor
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The 10th edition of the quinquennial (‘every five years’) SAIL Amsterdam event takes place in August 2025. It was originally scheduled to take place in August 2020, but was cancalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
SAIL Amsterdam 2025 will be the event’s 10th edition. It will coincide with the 750th birthday of the City of Amsterdam.
A record 2.3 million visitors came to Amsterdam to see the tall ships during the 2015 event. That was far more than the 1.7 million people who visited SAIL 2010.
Sail Amsterdam takes place on the city’s waterfront – the river IJ.
No ships from terrorist nation Russia
Naturally this time around no ships from Russia will take part in this event. The terrorist nation is banned from participating for its unjust war against Ukraine.
Chris Janssen of Sail explains why there will be no Russian flags on the IJ this year: “As a maritime event, we have close ties with the Royal Netherlands Navy, and we’re not blind to what’s happening in the world. Inviting Russian ships at this time isn’t appropriate. And I think people will understand that,” he says.
Last Minute Hotels in or near Amsterdam
This hugely popular event draws visitors from everywhere to Amsterdam – during the height of the tourist season. Still, there are good last-minute Amsterdam hotel deals available.
Note that you do not necessarily need to stay in the center of the city. The suburbs are well connected by the city’s excellent public transport system. [Tip: get the multiple-day pass].
Likewise, even if you stay outside the city – in the Metropolitan region of Amsterdam – travel to and from Central Station is quick and easy. [Tip: get the Amsterdam & Region travel ticket]
See the ships the best way: from the water
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The information below is an archived entry that describes the previous SAIL AMSTERDAM event.
Today through Sunday August 23, Amsterdam is home to SAIL 2015 — the largest public event in the Netherlands.
Matter of fact, SAIL Amsterdam is the largest free public event in the world.
While there is a full program, the highlight is the presence of at least 44 tall ships from around the world — thirteen of which will visit the city for the first time.
Aside from the tall ships, there will be five Dutch marine vessels, 11 marine training ships from other countries, and more than 600 marine heritage vessels.
Accompanied by thousands of small boats — from sloops and dinghies to yachts — these ships will sail today, Wednesday, August 23, from IJmuiden at the North Sea coast via the North Sea Canal to the IJ — the body of water on the north side of Central Station.
Around 2 pm, when the first tall ship — the clipper Stad Amsterdam — arrives at the IJ, the last ship in the 12 kilometer (7.5 mile) parade will only just have left IJmuiden and will moor three hours later.
After the Sail-In Parade, the IJ will be home to a flotilla of tall ships, maritime heritage, and naval ships.
There are a host of activities and events, spread out over a large area [map]. You can also visit the tall ships.
SAIL Amsterdam — Ninth Edition
Held every five years, SAIL showcases Amsterdam’s maritime history.
The inaugural edition took place in 1975 as part of celebrations marking Amsterdam’s 700th jubilee.
This year’s event, the ninth, will be the largest thus far.
Amsterdam River IJ
Most Amsterdam Tourist Guide Books all but ignore the river IJ. In doing so, they ‘cheat’ tourists out of experiencing one of Amsterdam’s top attractions.
There is so much to see and do on and around ‘het IJ‘ (we’ll show you how to pronounce that).
Anton and Janet Hein live and work in Amsterdam. We are the publishers of DutchAmsterdam.
Anton was born on a houseboat in the center of Amsterdam, right across from the iconic Westertoren and what later became the Anne Frank House museum. Having lived in nearly every district since then, he knows the city like his own back pocket.
Janet was born in England and raised in Ireland before moving to Amsterdam 42 years ago. Even to date she brings an expat’s perspective to the DutchAmsterdam website.
Last updated Wednesday, August 20, 2025 CET (Central European Time)
Do not republish or repost.
