Amsterdam (AP) – A fleet of hundreds of historic ships Amsterdam On Wednesday, a five-day festival was launched to celebrate the maritime history of the Dutch capital.
Ships from around the world, masts and rigging are decorated with flags, and I left the coastal town of Imuden in the North Sea and began an hour-long journey to Amsterdam’s IJ Waterway for the first time in 10 years, sailing 2025.
A puff of orange smoke erupted into the sky, and the ship’s horns squealed as replica 3-mast clipper stad Amsterdam passed through the rocks and marked the official start of the event. Each ship is greeted with two cannon shots and the national anthem as it enters the port.
Hundreds of small ships packed the channels and watched them pass.
The event, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors, takes place every five years. The 2020 edition has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Wednesday’s parade will peak with an evening fireworks display. The ship remains in Amsterdam, many open for visitors throughout the weekend.
The first event was first held in 1975 to celebrate Amsterdam’s 700th anniversary, with this year’s edition coinciding with the city’s 750th birthday.
