SAIL Amsterdam kicks off with Sail-In parade; First tall ships expected at 14:00
After a ten-year absence, SAIL Amsterdam is starting in the Dutch capital today. The already mega event, which is happening from Wednesday to Sunday, will be even more massive this year, because it coincides with the celebration of Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary. The PreSail activities in IJmuiden and Beverwijk on Monday and Tuesday already attracted around 70,000 visitors, the organizers told ANP.
Today is the Sail-In, where the tall ships and their accompanying vessels will sail from IJmuiden, across the North Sea Canal, to Amsterdam. The exit from IJmuiden starts at 10:00 a.m., and the first tall ships are expected in Amsterdam around 2:00 p.m., according to AT5. The Amsterdam broadcaster will have a livestream going for both the departure and arrival.
This year, SAIL Amsterdam will include over 10,000 ships from 20 countries. Some of the ships can be visited free of charge every day during the event. Visitors can also meet the ships’ crews and see what life on board is like.
There will also be all kinds of other activities, including a nightly fireworks show, a Ferris wheel on the Kop of Java, a market, and music performances.
NS expects to transport around 590,000 visitors to and from SAIL Amsterdam, amounting to around 120,000 extra travelers per day. To accommodate this, the rail company is running on a special timetable from Wednesday to Sunday. The adjustments will affect train traffic throughout Noord-Holland, and travelers are advised to check the NS app before leaving for the station.
