From the shore, water and above: best ways to experience SAIL Amsterdam 2025

Experience SAIL from the shore

From the quay

One of the easiest and best free places to watch the SAIL-In Parade (Wednesday, 20 August) and SAIL-out (Sunday, 24 August) is the Central Station boulevard, where you can camp out on its wooden steps. Prepare for things to get crowded here and along the quay! The Suriname Quay is a particularly promising spot during SAILSation (Thursday to Sunday, 21-24 August) – that’s where maritime demonstrations and water sports competitions will take place.

From a terrace

There are plenty more spots to enjoy the show, though, with many beachy terraces along the sail-in route. For example, Pllek is right opposite REM-eiland. Plant your feet in the sand and witness the tall ships sailing against the Amsterdam skyline. 

From the IJ-haven

Another great point to camp out would be the IJ-haven, the ship’s final destination. You will find plenty of food trucks throughout SAIL, as well as a wheelchair-accessible Sit-down Café where everyone is on eye-level with each other due to a roof structure that comes down several times an hour to create an equal ground. Better yet, you set foot on the ships themselves once the ships are docked. Walk up the gangways, step aboard and meet the sailor crews from all over the world.

From the NDSM wharf

And don’t forget about the SAIL Kaap De Groene Hoop Festival (Wednesday-Sunday, 20-24 August) over at the NDSM wharf. You’ll find a lively market supporting fair trade, organic and locally made products, live jazz music, food trucks and great performances on the United by Waves music stage. You can also watch the ships pass along the IJ.

Experience SAIL from the water

From a tour boat

One of the best ways to experience SAIL is to get close to the action on the water! Many boating companies offer special tour boats or sloop rides. If you feel like splurging, consider paying for a spot on one of the tall ships. It’s not too late to arrange group accommodation, as many boats offer special business packages. 

Arrive on a boat in style with a special combo that includes a trip on a steam train and a spot on the steamboat Hydrograaf, also known as the official boat of Sinterklaas.

From a raft float

If you’ve got no boat or budget but plenty of imagination, consider taking part in the famous pieremachochelvaart (Thursday, 21 August), where anybody can join in on a homemade raft float. The parade float follows a route from the Entrepotdoksluis to the Amstel river and showcases over 75 imaginative floats.

From your own boat

You can spectate the SAIL-in and -out from your own boat, provided you follow the special SAIL rules: 

• Only motorised vessels are allowed
• Speed must be capped at 6 km/hour
• You need to purchase a valid vignette
• If you want to enter the IJ harbour more than five times, you have to buy a SAIL 2025 pennant

Experience SAIL from above

REM Eiland

Take in the views of ships sailing in from the city’s best vantage points for a truly unforgettable experience! A good place to camp out is the REM-eiland, a former pirate radio and TV station now home to Restaurant REM. The restaurant’s roof terrace towers 22 meters above sea level and offers a stunning 360-degree view of the parade. 

A’DAM Tower

Another spot worth trekking to is the A’DAM Tower rooftop on the other side of the IJ. These panoramic views are no joke: you can swing high above the ships on the iconic swings ‘over the edge’. Celebrate the festivities with a drink at the sky bar, but don’t forget to check the opening hours: they close a bit earlier than usual.

KNSM Island

Once the ships arrive, they will be moored at the IJ-Haven. Luckily, a Ferris wheel is going up on the edge of the Java-eiland in KNSM. Ride up to the top to take in the spectacle. Adrenaline lovers should head straight to Azartplein, where the SAIL Adventure Seats will be hoisted up to a 60-meter height, offering a panoramic view over the IJ for 10 unforgettable minutes.

Learn more about what to see during SAIL 2025 in our guide and check out the SAIL app for the full event programming.