Sail Amsterdam 2025 – An epic nautical event
In August 2025 the 10th edition of this 5 yearly event returns
Sail Amsterdam is a huge draw for Amsterdammers and visitors alike. Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to the river to see the sail and tall ships festoned in all their glory. A piece of history sailing by to celebrate the birthday of Amsterdam. The nautical event takes place every five years and was first started way back in 1975. In 2020 it was cancelled due to the pandemic, so you can expect Sail Amsterdam 2025 to be an incredibly popular and poignant celebration.
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Ten years since it was last held, Sail Amsterdam will celebrate 50 years since its inception in 1975. It will also be a major part of the celebrations to mark the 750th year of Amsterdam itself.
When is Sail Amsterdam 2025
Sail Amsterdam will take place from 20-24 August 2025.
Getting around
Sail Amsterdam is incredibly popular for good reason. Obviously focussed on the waterways, there are though plenty of dry land activities taking place too. These are often focussed around the city centre and as such may have some effect on public transport provision on some days. If you are staying outside the city centre or want to make your way along the route you can use the Amsterdam public transport to help you get around the city or you can walk/cycle.
Official ships
Although not announced yet, you can expect a huge array of ships to partake in Sail Amsterdam, there was even a submarine a few events ago. The event in 2015 ended up with well over 600 ships involved (not all tall/sail ships) but you can expect the 2025 edition to attract even more. You can check nearer the time to see the ships involved in the Sail 2025 event at Sail.
Visitor numbers
Sail Amsterdam is expected to attract well over 1.5 million visitors to Amsterdam. Everyone will come for a spectacle like no other, with opportunities to board some historic ships and take part in the many festivities along the river and in the city centre. It is a riot of colour and history and in the main completely free. Do not leave your camera at home.
Sail in parade
The sail in parade marks the opening of the nautical event. This isn’t a small parade of ships, this is a 12km parade with well over 50 tall ships being escorted by military vessels, along with probably thousands of smaller vessels of all classes. You’ll probably never see the river as full as you will on Sail Amsterdam’s sail in parade.
The Sail in Parade takes place on day one, 20 August 2025.
Sale out Parade
At the end of the festival there is the Sail Out, so if you do miss the Sail In, you can see the closing of the festival Sail Out which is on a Sunday, so you can expect this to be pretty busy.
Oceans
The main event is big. So big that they split it into oceans, each with its own theme. In 2015 there were five themes (oceans) and the city centre itself was one of these ‘oceans’ with lots of linked up events between attractions. IJhaven Quay hosts what is considered the main event with music, fireworks and the best opportunity to climb on board the tall ships, see them in the dock or take a smaller boat tour around them.
Amsterdam 750th Celebrations
Sail Amsterdam coincides with the huge 750th birthday celebrations of Amsterdam. Amsterdam will be enjoying a year long celebration of its 750th Jubilee in 2025 and Sail Amsterdam will be an integral part of these celebrations.
Visiting in 2025 will bring you to Amsterdam for a significant and hugely celebrated year.
Where to stay for Sail Amsterdam 2025
Yes, its a few years away yet, but it’s held in the summer and will be incredibly popular. In 2015, 1.5m visitors descended on Amsterdam to see Sail Amsterdam. In 2025 we expect it to be much more.
As we like to say, you can stay anywhere in Amsterdam and easily make your way across the city using the trams, on foot, the metro, buses or on a bike. Amsterdam is a compact city so not at all difficult to get around. One of the reason we love it so much.
City centre and riverside locations
If you want to be close to the Sail Amsterdam festivities then a city centre hotel is a great option, but you could also consider one of the many hotels that have views across the River IJ. Imagine waking up in the mornings to see sail boats and tall ships from your hotel room or in the evening in the bar.
We have pages all about where to stay in Amsterdam and feature some of the best riverside hotels in our luxury hotels in Amsterdam page. Remember you will be looking for IJ riverside and not canal side hotels if you want to see tall ships on the River IJ.
You can use our Amsterdam Maps if you want to get your bearings of how Amsterdam is layed out as a city with the main river IJ. Hotels of note are Doubletree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station which sits on the river IJ at the back of Central Station and for apartments Eric Vokel Boutique Apartments, but there are many more.
Related Amsterdam attractions
Other Amsterdam attractions worth visiting that will give you amazing views are the A’DAM Lookout and Eye Film Museum, both on the opposite bank of the river from centraal station. You may need to get there early on parade day to be able to get across the river though.
You can also visit the National Maritime Museum during the event to really immerse yourself in the history of Amsterdam as a maritime capital of the world.
