Amsterdam is playing host again to a fleet of the world’s ‘tall ships,’ the high-masted vessels that once dominated the seas. The SAIL festival is an every-five-year tradition that started in 1975, but was canceled in the 2020 pandemic year.
The ships arrived starting yesterday and are open for visitors, with the city prepared for an influx of visitors as well as the ships. The ships gathered at a sea lock at the coast, and then sailed together to the city’s Ijhaven port.
In order to get them there, the city dismantled an entire bridge to make way for the giant masts, and closed numbers of roads. While they’re in town, there will be special events including fireworks displays and water sports competitions.
The 2010 edition of SAIL Photo: SAIL
