Sail Amsterdam is one of the most spectacular tall ship events in the world. It takes place every five years and began in 1975 to celebrate the city of Amsterdam turning 700 years old.
According to the event organisers, Sail is the largest event in the Netherlands, the biggest free event in Europe, and the largest maritime event in the world.
In 2025, this event broke records on social media, “with a reach of 3.15 billion.” The organisers said that typically only extremely large events such as World Cups and the Olympics achieve a bigger reach.
I attended Sail Amsterdam in 2025, which happened to be the 10th time it ran (it was postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic), and also celebrated 50 years of Sail, coinciding with Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary.
It was just as special as I’d hoped it would be. However, I found that planning for the event was quite tricky with not as much information released in English as would have been helpful.
I imagine some other international visitors might have had this problem. So, in this blog I’m going to share my knowledge based on my experience of Sail 2025 to help others plan for a memorable and straightforward experience.
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A Guide to Sail Amsterdam
Sail Amsterdam is a large nautical festival comprised of many smaller events which take place over five days in the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
The most notable day of Sail Amsterdam is the first day, which sees the arrival of the tall ships. This event is known as the ‘Sail-In’ parade. A lot of footage you may have seen online was likely taken during the Sail-In parade. If you had to pick just one thing to witness, I’d highly recommend the Sail-In parade.
On the last day of the festival, the ships leave in the ‘Sail-Out’ parade. This feels more sombre given that the ships are leaving and it marks the end of an event that people have waited five years for.
In between the Sail-In parade and the Sail-Out parade, there are plenty of smaller events on, from live music, firework shows, harbour tours of the tall ships, going onboard the tall ships, watching races, sailor parades through the city, and a whole lot more!
So, let’s begin planning with the most important information.
How often does Sail Amsterdam happen? When is the next one?
Sail Amsterdam takes place every five years. The next festival is set to take place from Wednesday 21st August 2030 to Sunday 25th August 2030.
How long does Sail Amsterdam last?
Sail Amsterdam typically takes place over a five-day period, usually starting on a Wednesday with the Sail-In Parade, and ending on a Sunday with the Sail-Out Parade.
When should I begin planning for Sail Amsterdam 2030?
Millions of people attend Sail Amsterdam, so it’s a good idea to begin planning early. I booked my accommodation 16 months in advance, as Airbnbs, hostels, and hotels were already advertising availability at that time.
Travel was booked closer to the event and it largely depends how you intend on getting to the Netherlands, as to when you can book. International flights and coaches can usually be booked from 11-12 months ahead, whilst trains can sometimes be booked 6-11 months in advance.
My advice would be to think about how you would like to travel to Amsterdam (plane, train, or coach). Once you’ve decided on that, have a quick search to see how far in advance you can book your tickets.
Many of the Sail Amsterdam events (such as the harbour tours) can be booked around 12 months ahead of the festival.
As a rough indication, this schedule could be useful for Sail Amsterdam 2030:
- Now: Sign-up for the Sail Amsterdam newsletter on the website homepage here, and follow their social media accounts (Facebook, X, and Instagram). By doing this, you’ll be kept in the loop for when various event tickets go on sale.
- April 2029 onwards: Book accommodation (ideally with free cancellation, to be safe)
- August 2029 onwards: Depending on the type of transport you’re using, it’s worth looking to book around this time if it’s possible.
- August 2029 onwards: If Sail Amsterdam hasn’t made any tickets available prior to this, then it’s likely they’ll do so here as it marks exactly 12 months until the event begins. Keep a close eye on the Sail Amsterdam website, the newsletter, and their social media channels prior to this just in case tickets go on sale earlier!
- August 2029 onwards: Book any tours/events unrelated to Sail Amsterdam. If you’re travelling all the way to the Netherlands, you may wish to book excursions and activities outside of the Sail festival. Again, I’d advise looking to book these from August 2029 onwards.
- End of 2029/Early 2030: The online shop should go live around this time to buy Sail Amsterdam merchandise. Unfortunately, the online shop in 2025 only delivered to addresses in the Netherlands, so it’s worth keeping that in mind given that many of us have no address in the Netherlands (apart from booked accommodation, although there’s no guarantee they’ll take deliveries on your behalf. If you were interested in doing this, it’s essential that you contact your accommodation provider in advance to ask their permission and see if they can safely store it for you until your arrival. This would need to be done prior to making any order). I haven’t tried this in the Netherlands, so I can’t recommend any options, but some countries have parcel forwarding providers whereby they can accept a parcel in the country of origin and then forward it onto you (usually for quite a large fee!) If you go down that route, ensure you carry out due diligence to identify a trusted and reliable parcel forwarding service. We live in hope that Sail Amsterdam changes their policy to allow for international deliveries…
Where does Sail Amsterdam take place?
The event begins with the Sail-In parade with the tall ships sailing to Amsterdam, along the River IJ. The River IJ is a canal that connects Amsterdam to the North Sea.
The tall ships start their journey from the locks at IJmuiden, and they travel to IJ-haven (IJ Harbour) in the heart of Amsterdam where they moor up for the festival (this is where harbour tours take place and where you can go onboard the ships).
On the last day of the festival, the Sail-Out parade takes place, where the ships retrace their route back to IJmuiden and the North Sea.
What route do the tall ships follow for the Sail-In and Sail-Out parades?
For the Sail-In parade, the tall ships travel from IJmuiden at the North Sea locks along the River IJ to IJ Haven in central Amsterdam. The Sail-Out parade reverses this route. The map below shows the route of the tall ships.
How many ships take part in Sail Amsterdam?
The organisers say that over 40 tall ships participated in Sail 2025. They were part of over 10,000 vessels that were on the water during the event. The organisers say these vessels came from 24 countries around the world.
How much are Sail Amsterdam tickets?
Technically Sail Amsterdam is a free festival in that people can watch the Sail-In and Sail-Out parades from the banks of the River IJ for free. People can also stroll through IJ-haven and see the tall ships moored up during the event. The fireworks shows in the evenings are also free to watch.
However, there are some paid events where tickets must be purchased. For example, there are concerts and harbour tours, for which a paid ticket is required. It’s also possible to pay for an experience onboard a vessel during the Sail-In and Sail-Out parades, enabling you to be part of the action on two of the most special days of the festival.
Ticket prices vary depending on the event, and also where the tickets are purchased from.
The concert tickets can be purchased directly from the Sail Amsterdam website (www.sail.nl). At the 2025 edition of Sail, each of the evening concerts featured different artists and had different prices. The starting prices for each evening were:
- Wednesday: prices from €39.95
- Thursday: prices from €54.95
- Friday: prices from €49.95
- Saturday: prices from €69.95
Harbour tours can be purchased through the Sail Amsterdam website. The cost for a boat tour (in a boat with glass windows in case of rain) was €32.50 in 2025. This tour had headphones provided and you could select your preferred language and listen to a pre-recorded audio transcript of the vessels you were going past. The cost for a sloop (completely exposed to the elements, but a better view of the tall ships) was €49.50 in 2025.
The Sail Amsterdam website offers premium tickets for the Sail-In parade, with prices from €395 in 2025. Premium tickets for the Sail-Out parade started from €335 in 2025. Other tour operators offer experiences for both Parades, with prices varying on the duration of the trips. For example, the company Lovers.nl offered a five-hour all-inclusive Sail-In parade experience from €250.
Shortly before the festival began in 2025, the Sail Amsterdam website included a slew of new ticket options including a much cheaper ticket for the Sail-In parade of €195.
Other packages that were available from the Sail Amsterdam website in 2025 included:
- An afternoon boat tour with prices from €285
- An evening boat tour with prices from €335
- An afternoon cruise on a traditional sailing ship with prices from €119
- An evening cruise on a sloop with prices from €129
- Boats & bites with prices from €99
- Sunset & lights with prices from €129
It’s worth comparing prices between the Sail Amsterdam website with official partner companies, to find the best possible price. Some official partner tour operators offer cheaper options, but be aware that the duration and what’s included with the ticket may vary. So have a look round to find what’s best for you.
How do I book tickets for the Sail-In Parade?
One of the best places to watch the Sail-In parade is on the water. You’re then part of this epic spectacle. There are various tour vessels taking part, some operated through the official Sail Amsterdam site, and other private tour operators participating too.
Tickets can be booked from the official Sail Amsterdam website, when they go onsale – likely in 2029. As mentioned, prices vary with premium tickets starting at €395 (for the 2025 edition), and last-minute cheaper tickets starting at €195 (for the 2025 edition).
It’s also worth keeping an eye on private tour operator websites such as Lovers.nl who offered a five-hour Sail-In parade experience for €250 in 2025.
Another option is to use keyword searches on google to find other private tour operators. Useful Google search terms may include: “Sail In Parade Tickets”, “Sail Amsterdam Sail In Parade”, “Sail In Parade 2030”. Trying various combinations like this may bring up additional private tour operators participating in the event. Please note, that this will likely generate some non-official private tour operators and that you should therefore assess their background and reviews to ensure they are legitimate and trustworthy, prior to making any bookings. It was using this method, that I eventually found an affordable ticket for a three-hour boat tour during the Sail-In parade.
How do I book tickets for the Sail-Out Parade?
One of the best places to watch the Sail-Out parade is on the water. There are various tour vessels taking part, some operated through the official Sail Amsterdam site, and other private tour operators participating too. This section will look at tickets for these ships.
Tickets can be booked from the official Sail Amsterdam website, when they go on sale. As mentioned, prices vary with premium tickets starting at €335 (for the 2025 edition).
It’s also worth keeping an eye on private tour operator websites such as Lovers.nl who offered a four hour Sail-Out experience in 2025.
Another option is to use keyword searches on google to find other private tour operators. Search terms which may be of interest include, “Sail Amsterdam Sail Out Tickets”, and “Sail Out Parade 2030”. Trying various combinations like this may bring up additional private tour operators participating in the event. Please note, that this will likely generate some non-official private tour operators and that you should therefore assess their background and reviews to ensure they are legitimate and trustworthy, prior to making any bookings.
Where is the best place to watch the Sail-In Parade and the Sail-Out Parade?
In my opinion, there is nothing that compares to being on the water and being part of these parades. And if I had to recommend just one of the two parades? I’d recommend the Sail-In parade (and for full disclosure, this was the only one I participated in), because the energy and atmosphere are infectious. As such, I recommend purchasing a ticket to be onboard a ship for the Sail-In Parade, as described in the sections above.
However, if you wish to watch from terra firma, there are several options to choose from. Looking at the route map above, it shows that the ships travel down the River IJ, from the North Sea locks at IJmuiden to IJ-haven in Amsterdam. Many people line the banks of the River IJ to watch the parades.
Local knowledge and an ability to speak Dutch is a firm benefit, as before the 2025 event, information was released about this in Dutch on some websites. But, unable to get a clear translation, I wasn’t able to utilise this information. But what I will say is that along some stretches of the river, the crowds were massive, so be sure to plan on getting to your location early if you choose this option.
If you’re planning to remain in the city of Amsterdam on the day of either parade, then one place of interest may be the A’dam Tower from which you can get a real bird’s eye view of the event (see my video at the top of the post for an idea of the view). I visited the A’dam Tower towards the end of the Sail-In Parade and got some amazing footage of tall ships arriving into IJ-haven. It’s a fairly small space though and tickets must be purchased in advance from the A’dam Tower website. Be sure to plan on getting there early and finding a spot that you’re happy to watch the event from. There’s mesh wire up there for safety reasons, which is a small impediment to your view, but worth mentioning nonetheless.
When I contacted I Amsterdam (the Amsterdam tourist board) in 2025 for their suggestions for the Sail-In parade, they recommended two locations: NDSM Wharf in Amsterdam North, and Java-Eiland. I visited NDSM Wharf and it certainly is a bit further off the beaten track, given that this was an industrial area which they’re trying to regenerate. In the afternoon, it was quite crowded so perhaps other people had the same idea.
Just be aware that if you head to either the A’dam Tower or NDSM Wharf, you’ll be on the North side of the River IJ, which is typically accessed by the free ferry services departing from Amsterdam Centraal Station. During the parades, the ferry services are suspended to allow the tall ships access to IJ-haven. So be prepared for a long wait on the North side of the river until ferry services resume. This is something they don’t warn you about in advance. So, once you’ve chosen your side of the river, by all means see if you can cross over again if you want to, but just be prepared that you’ll likely have a wait. You’ll also be competing with massive crowds to cross the river so queues are to be expected.
One place I’d be less likely to recommend is directly outside Amsterdam Centraal Station – the main train station hub in Amsterdam. Although it backs onto the River IJ, it was extremely crowded there. Rather try walk along the river in either direction to escape the crowds and try find a better spot.
Can I go aboard the tall ships? How much does this cost?
Yes! Most of the tall ships will be made open to the public to visit. The Sail-In Parade takes place on Wednesday, and by the time the boats have moored its late afternoon/early evening. So, by Thursday morning, most of the vessels are ready to welcome visitors. Be prepared for massive crowds at IJ-haven during this time!
Each tall ship will have its own queue to join. Simply join your preferred queue for your preferred ship. Some of these ships have a small shop onboard where you can purchase gifts, and these contribute to the upkeep of the vessel. It’s a nice way of donating to show your appreciation for being allowed to visit.
As someone who was very much inspired by the achievements of Alexander von Humboldt, I was fortunate to go onboard the Alexander von Humboldt II with its iconic green sails, at Sail 2025.
What kind of events are on during Sail Amsterdam?
According to the organisers, there were 200 components in the 2025 edition of Sail Amsterdam. The previous daily programmes can be found here to give an indication of the types of events that take place.
Closer to the next event, a programme/timetable will be released for Sail 2030. This will likely be in 2030, and the programme will populate gradually as more events are confirmed. It’s worth downloading the Sail Amsterdam app, which lists all the events and allows you to set reminders for those you wish to attend. It also has a map so you can see where each event is taking place.
How do I book tickets for Sail Amsterdam’s other events?
The Sail Amsterdam website will list the tickets for the sailing experiences (Sail-In Parade, Sail-Out Parade, Afternoon and Evening Cruises, and Harbour tours) and for the Sail Onstage nightly music festivals.
When I tried to purchase a harbour tour ticket (on the day of release) for the 2025 edition of Sail, their website had been configured for Dutch payments only and I was initially unable to purchase a ticket. Should this happen when you try and book, simply reach out to the Sail Amsterdam team and explain the issue and they’ll resolve it by adding in international payment options.
Private tour operators such as Lovers.nl also offer harbour tours, which were available from €32.50 in 2025.
You don’t need a ticket to watch the ‘Waves of Light’ fireworks display.
Where can I watch the Sail Amsterdam nightly ‘Waves of Light’ fireworks displays?
The fireworks displays are called ‘Waves of Light,’ and they take place on each evening from Wednesday through to Saturday. They are set off from the A’dam Tower, and as one of the tallest buildings in the city, you can see the fireworks from afar (see my video at the top of this post to get an idea).
A decent place to watch is from the South side of the river – simply take the River IJ exit from Amsterdam Centraal Station, and find a spot with a good view of A’dam Tower (A’dam Tower is closed during the fireworks displays for safety reasons).
It’s also possible to buy a ticket to be onboard a vessel and watch the fireworks from the water. A ticket for a two-hour trip onboard a sloop cost around €129 in 2025.
Where can I buy merchandise online and how much does it cost?
Merchandise is available from the Sail Amsterdam online shop here: www.sail.nl/en/shop. There are a range of accessories and clothing to choose from. But it’s worth noting that in the 2025 edition of Sail, that they only delivered to the Netherlands. Thus, for international buyers, you won’t be able to get it delivered to your home country.
Pricing from the 2025 event is listed below to give a rough indication:
- Cap – €39.95
- Coin – €42.50
- Flag – €29.95
- Jigsaw puzzle – €14.95
- Notebook – €12.95
- Polo shirt – €44.95
- Sailing jacket – €149.95
- Socks – €14.95
- Sunglasses – €14.95
- Tiles (various sizes) – between €29.00 and €74.00
- Tile wooden stand – €7.95
- T-shirts – €39.95
- Water bottle – €14.95
- Waterproof bag – €14.95
Where can I buy merchandise in-person at the Sail Amsterdam festival?
For international visitors, it’s not currently possible to have orders delivered outside the Netherlands. So, this means that you’ll probably be looking to purchase things at the festival itself.
In 2025, the I Amsterdam shop at Amsterdam Centraal Station stocked official Sail merchandise. However, I was surprised to note that on the day prior to the start of the festival they’d nearly sold out of all their stock! And little came in during the event, so I wouldn’t guarantee being able to buy anything from there.
Should this happen when you visit Amsterdam, other pop-up merchandise stands will be available during the festival. When I asked for specific locations for the 2025 event, these weren’t available and it seems like they’re located in an ad-hoc manner. If the organisers could determine the location of these stands and provide that info in advance, it would really help people plan.
For the Sail 2025 event, several merchandise stands were located between Amsterdam Centraal Station and IJ-haven (along the south bank of the River IJ).
My advice for the clothing would be to take a look at the online shop, and see what sizes they have available. The sizes shown here are likely the only ones you’ll find at the event – if you require a smaller or larger size, then you’re likely out of luck.
How busy does it get at Sail Amsterdam?
Very busy! The organisers say that the 2025 edition of Sail had 2.5 million visitors. I can very well believe that. Be prepared for large crowds on every day of the event – whether they’re crowds lining the River IJ for the Sail-In and Sail-Out parades, or massive crowds at IJ-haven walking past and going onboard the tall ships. Even the evening fireworks displays have massive crowds lining the River IJ.
Will transportation be affected during Sail Amsterdam?
Yes. I’ve previously mentioned the disruption to the ferries during the Sail-In/Sail-Out Parades. But, it’s also worth noting that much of Sail Amsterdam takes place very close to Amsterdam Centraal Station, which is a central hub for transportation. However, the roads are closed off around the station for this event.
So be aware that if you plan things like coach tours to other parts of the Netherlands, that these often depart from outside Amsterdam Centraal Station. But, during the event, these coach tours have to operate from a different part of the city and your collection/drop-off point will likely change. If you have concerns about this, contact your coach operators for clarification in advance.
It’s also worth booking your transportation to and from the Netherlands well in advance, given that 2.5 million people attend the event.
How do I get to Sail Amsterdam?
You may have several ways of getting to the Netherlands depending on where you’re travelling from, including trains, ferries, coaches, and flights.
As for the festival itself, the tall ships will initially travel down the River IJ (see the previous sections on the Sail-In and Sail-Out Parades), before mooring in IJ-haven. Most of the action takes place around the River IJ in Amsterdam, including the nightly fireworks displays.
IJ-haven is a walkable distance from Amsterdam Centraal Station. Depending on where you’re staying in Amsterdam, you may feel comfortable walking there direct without transport. Otherwise, there are regular trains to Amsterdam Centraal Station from around the city, as well as Metros and Trams. In the Netherlands, bicycles reign supreme. So, if cycling is up your street you also have that option.
In 2025, if you bought an I Amsterdam city card, it gave you free use of Metros for the duration of the card’s validity. The Metros depart from a completely separate area within Amsterdam Centraal station to the main train platforms. They’re not to be confused with the trams, which depart from outside the train station entrance!
However, the day I arrived my Metro line wasn’t working, so I was forced to use trains instead. I found the trains to be much quicker and more convenient, even though these had to be paid for separately and costed more. Train tickets can be purchased from the ticket machines and payment is by card only.
What is the Pieremachocheltocht?
The Pieremachocheltocht is a fun event that takes place on one of Amsterdam’s canals during the Sail festival. Participants build their own home-made floating structures, using their imagination and (hopefully) enough buoyancy! The quirkier the floating vessel, the better – and prizes are awarded at the end of the event. Details of the location will be released closer to August 2030.
What is the crew parade?
One of the events that takes place during Sail Amsterdam is the crew parade. This is where sailors from around the world take part in a marching parade through the city. Some of these sailors are from the navy and will be dressed in full regalia, whilst other crew will be wearing costumes for the event (there might be a chance of seeing a pirate or two).
Is there free entry to the National Maritime Museum (Het Scheepvaartmuseum) during Sail Amsterdam?
In 2025, the National Maritime Museum was free to enter for the duration of the Sail Amsterdam festival. If you have spare time during Sail, then it might be worth taking a walk over to this impressive museum especially if they offer free entry again.
Is there a dress code for Sail Amsterdam?
No, there is no dress code for the event. But, keep in mind you’re attending in August during the peak of the summer. This doesn’t mean that you’ll be free of inclement weather. So, it’s best to pack for warm and wet conditions. Warmer clothing might also be useful for the evening fireworks’ displays when the temperature dips.
Which vessels have been confirmed for the 2030 edition of Sail Amsterdam?
A list of vessels will gradually increase from 2029 into 2030 as the event approaches. So far, the flagship of the fleet, the Stad Amsterdam, has been confirmed, as has the Royal Netherlands Navy.
Where can I keep up with the latest Sail Amsterdam news?
Aside from the Sail Amsterdam website, there are various places to keep up-to-date with news. A recommended option is to sign up for the Sail Amsterdam newsletter, which you can do via the homepage of website. Be prepared for most of these newsletters to be in Dutch. Some e-mail providers will automatically translate them into English. If not, you’ll need to copy and paste the content into Google translate.
Definitely get the Sail Amsterdam app (there’s a link to it from the Sail Amsterdam website here), as this has news, plus tons of other info that will be helpful on timings and events and locations, including a map.
Also keep an eye on the official Sail Amsterdam social media channels: Facebook, X, and Instagram.
What’s available on the Sail Amsterdam app?
The Sail Amsterdam app is definitely worth getting (you can find a link to download it from the homepage of the Sail Amsterdam website). The app will update as new tall ships are confirmed, so you can see which vessels will be in attendance. Each ship has it’s own page, and the app also shows you where each ship will be moored during the event, so you can easily find any vessel that you’d like to visit! The full programme for the event will be available on the app, and you can save your favourites so that you have a reminder of what event is taking place where. There are also links to purchase tickets for things like the live music events, as well as a link to the shop.
Other tips
A key thing to remember is that the Sail-In Parade is one of the most special parts of the event, and this takes place on the first day of Sail Amsterdam, which is Wednesday. So, ensure that you’ve arrived before this if you wish to watch the Sail-In Parade. Things will get busy after 9am, even though the ships don’t start arriving until after midday. So, ensure you’ve got to wherever you want to be in good time.
The 9292 website is useful for finding out departure times for a range of transportation methods in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam Centraal Station is the main transport hub. For those visiting for the first time, it can be a bit daunting. So be sure to look at a map of the station layout beforehand and know exactly where you’re going. Remember that the Eurostar, trains, Metros, trams, and coaches, all depart from this hub! And each of them goes from a different part of the station. A ticket for Metros won’t let you in to other parts of the station, and the same goes for the other types of tickets. If you’re at a barrier and it doesn’t accept your ticket, then there’s a good chance you’re trying to use the wrong form of transport!
Be aware that trains are much faster than Metros, as Metros tend to have a lot more stops whereas the trains are often direct or have fewer stops.
Amsterdam is tech heavy, and service-personnel light. This means that you buy your train tickets from machines. It also means that ticket barriers in stations are completely unstaffed, so if you have any issue with your ticket, there’s no one to ask about this. However, there are two information desks close to the Metros entrance of Amsterdam Centraal Station. I spoke to one of their representatives and was directed to the relevant Metro line, only to find out that the Metro line had been closed for most of the day due to a technical issue. So, there’s no guarantee you’ll get the help you need… I advise over-planning in advance, so you’re not overwhelmed when you get there. The lack of staff is a big disappointment, as most major cities have assistants available.
Continuing with the tech heavy theme, many shops only accept card payments and some have no staff present – it’s self-service only. There are even vending machines scattered about the city that serve everything from flowers to burgers and a lot more in-between. So if you plan on taking cash with you, make sure you have your card as well, as many places in Amsterdam are card only.
If you plan on visiting museums and other attractions in Amsterdam, it’s worth checking whether the I Amsterdam city card can save you money. This card can be purchased for a specific duration, and in that time you have free access to lots of museums and attractions in the city. A top tip – check out whether your preferred attraction requires advance booking, and if it does, ensure you do this.
If you’re planning day tours or coach tours, they sometimes depart from Amsterdam Centraal Station. Despite having five years of advance notice, these tours companies seem to realise at the last minute that they won’t be able to access this departure point (as some of the roads are cordoned off for the event). So, I’d recommend contacting your tour operator and getting clarification on this before arriving in Amsterdam, so that you can plan accordingly.
Cities generally aren’t cheap, and Amsterdam is no exception. So, begin budgeting and saving as early as you can, so that you can afford the Sail Amsterdam experience you’d like.
It’s worth mentioning that many Dutch people speak fluent English, and are also very friendly.
Be prepared for a lot of walking and ensure you have good footwear! Also keep your eyes peeled for cyclists, who are absolutely everywhere… All the time!
Is Sail Amsterdam worth it?
If you’ve seen the videos and pictures online and you think it looks awesome and feel like you want to attend, then I believe it’s worth it. I’d go so far as saying it’s a ‘once in a lifetime’ bucket list experience.
I’ve said it many times in this blog, but the standout event is the Sail-In Parade and if I had to recommend only one thing – it would be that. Having done a 3+ hour boat cruise during the Sail-In parade, I got to experience part of it from the water, another part from the banks of the River IJ, and the final part from over 80m up at the A’dam Tower. The atmosphere on the water was incredibly special and in my opinion was the best place to be for the parade. The next best for me was the A’dam Tower, with the birds’ eye view of the city and the ships arriving into IJ-haven. But, each person to their own!
If you attend a future Sail event, then I hope this guide proves to be of some use. I also hope you have the most incredible time at this amazing maritime event.
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