LOADING RESULTS ... 
Well, fan my brow!, its all over for another five years. SAIL 2015 has come and gone.
What is Sail Amsterdam? What ?, Did I hear the question correctly?.
Since the first back in 1975, SAIL Amsterdam is now the largest public event held in the Netherlands and the
largest free nautical event in the world.
Every five years, over 600 ships and boats navigate along the North Sea Canal before mooring in and around
the IJ-haven in Amsterdam. 2015 will be the ninth SAIL Amsterdam event and we kick off from 19th to 23rd August.
For naval enthusiasts, water-sports fans and anyone who loves fantastic festivals, SAIL Amsterdam is one of the biggest
and most important nautical events in the world. Following the tremendous success of an event initially organised in 1975
to mark the 700th anniversary of the founding of Amsterdam, SAIL became a regular international maritime event held once every five years.
SAIL Amsterdam is certainly an
impressive event to see at least
once. A one to add to any bucket
list for sure.
The official opening is the so-called
Parade of vessels during which
dozens of tall ships, hundreds of
smaller heritage vessels and
thousands of modern boats arrive
into the IJ Harbour in a festive
procession. All the ships stay moored in the IJ over the course of the event that spans four days.
Besides these ships, spectators can also see some impressive replicas of famous ships. The whole event of
watching the beautiful heritage vessels enter the harbour of the historic city can almost leave you with the
sensation of being transported back to another era of sea conquests and pirates.
All of the SAIL events are free – from music shows and concerts to ship tours. The scope and variety of
the events and festivities are so huge that you will not be able to attend everything and might have to choose
what to see.
The programme only becomes available sometime in early June, the year when the festival takes place. If you
want a real memorable experience, you can pay to board a tourist boat that will follow the parade as it entering
the harbour.
The IJ harbour is situated on the outskirts of the historic canal ring of Amsterdam, within easy reach of Central
Station. That is why the route that takes pedestrians to the festival venues usually begins behind Central Station
and is clearly marked. During the event, the festival area is closed for vehicles.
Nearly two million people attend
this spectacular event held only
twice in a decade.
Accommodation in Amsterdam is fully
booked during festivals so making
plans well in advance are paramount
to a pleasant experience.
We offer you a wide choice of
holiday apartments, hotels, B&Bs
and hostels situated in different parts
of the historic canal ring, nearby
Central Station and the IJ Harbour. We have places catering for all groups sizes.
These excellent locations allow easy access to festival venues, local attractions and amenities and our large choice of
holiday apartments and serviced accommodation allows you to find something that will match your budget and
needs perfectly.