August 17 and 18 in and around Museumhaven Gouda
Gouda is gearing up for a special maritime spectacle. On Sunday, August 17, and Monday, August 18, an impressive fleet of historic ships will call at the city during the SAIL Amsterdam 2025 arrival parade. Approximately 60 former commercial vessels will dock in Gouda’s Museum Harbor and the surrounding area, including the Turfsingel, Vest, Bogen, and Nieuwe Veerstal.
The Procession—better known as the Salmon Procession—will set sail from Woudrichem on August 15 and lead the participating ships via Vreeswijk and Gouda to Amsterdam. There, they will join the festive SAIL-In Parade on August 20.
’s Sailing Heritage: Gouda is proud to serve as a key stop on this route, which highlights the Netherlands’ sailing heritage. These former commercial vessels, which sailed the Dutch waterways over 50 years ago, are privately owned and affiliated with a national preservation organization. They are kept in service by enthusiastic owners with great care and expertise.
The Gouda Museum Harbor serves as the backdrop for this encounter between the past and the present. The harbor is home to 18 permanently moored, inhabited historic commercial vessels, including sailing ships, motorboats, and tugboats. It is also home to the Werfhuis, a place where traditional crafts are practiced and ships are maintained. The former skippers’ lounge, the IJsselhuis, offers a beautiful view of the water.
A Taste of the Past
Residents of Gouda and visitors are warmly invited to come admire the fleet on Sunday, August 17. Stroll along the historic quays, meet the skippers, and experience the atmosphere of yesteryear. On Monday morning, August 18, the ships will continue their journey through the Mallegat Lock and the Ir. De Kock van Leeuwen Lock, which is also expected to be quite a sight to behold.
SAIL Amsterdam 2025 will celebrate its 10th anniversary from August 20 through 24. Tall ships from all over the world will gather in the capital for this milestone event. With 2.3 million visitors, SAIL is the largest free event in the Netherlands. In addition to the tall ships, numerous other vessels will participate, bringing the total number of ships to approximately 10,000.
