Every five years, SAIL Amsterdam fills the city’s waterways with tall ships, historic vessels, and thousands of smaller boats. This year’s edition is even more special, marking not only the return of one of the world’s largest nautical events but also Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary.
At dawn, I set off aboard a family boat moored beneath the NEMO museum — with a group of true Amsterdammers who live their lives on the water. Together, we joined the parade along the IJ canal, surrounded by hundreds of fellow boats, before greeting the majestic tall ships as they sailed into the city.
My reportage captures the spirit of this day at sea: the faces of those who celebrated, the gestures of life on board, and the many ways people marked the occasion. It’s a kind of street photography — only here, the streets are waves, and the city flows on water.
