Tens of thousands of visitors gathered in the capital of the Netherlands, starting on Wednesday (August 20), to attend Sail this week, one of the largest sailing ship events in the world.

The maritime festival, which takes place over the course of five days, expects to host over 10,000 ships and around 2.3 million visitors.

Sail was first organised in 1975 to mark the 700th anniversary of Amsterdam and includes a parade of old sailing boats, free ship tours and waterside activities. It will end on August 24.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Thousands of boats port for festival, welcomed by crowds in Amsterdam

VIDEO SHOWS: HUNDREDS OF BOATS IN THE CENTRE OF AMSTERDAM FOR MARITIME EVENT 'SAIL', VOX POPS

RESENDING WITH FULL SCRIPT

SHOWS: AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS (AUGUST 20, 2025) (NOS - No use Netherlands)

1. VARIOUS OF HELICOPTER VIEWS SHOWING THOUSANDS OF BOATS IN THE CENTRE OF AMSTERDAM

2. VARIOUS OF VISITORS WATCHING BOATS

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) VISITOR, ASKED WHAT IS SO NICE ABOUT 'SAIL', SAYING (SOUNDBITE STARTING OVER PREVIOUS SHOT):

"The freedom. There are beautiful ships here, it's just amazing!"

4. HELICOPTER SHOT SHOWING BOATS AND VISITORS ON THE IJ RIVER IN FRONT OF THE CENTRAL STATION, WHICH HAS 'AMSTERDAM' WRITTEN ON THE ROOF

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) VISITOR, SAYING (SOUNDBITE STARTING OVER PREVIOUS SHOT):

"It's a beautiful parade of boats. There's also some people we know on boats, so we'll have the occasion to wave to them. I'm looking forward to it."

6. BIG SAILING BOAT SOUNDING ITS HORN

7. HELICOPTER SHOT OF BOATS ON IJ RIVER

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) VISITOR, SAYING (SOUNDBITE STARTING OVER PREVIOUS SHOT):

"All available spots on the bank were taken, so I decided to sail back and forth with the ferry, all day long."

- JOURNALIST: "Back and forth with the ferry?"

- VISITOR: "Yes!"

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) VISITOR STANDING ON FERRY CROSSING THE IJ RIVER:

- JOURNALIST: "You have to be willing to make some sacrifices, don't you?"

- VISITOR: "Of course, but what you get in return is a beautiful view."

10. HELICOPTER SHOT SHOWING SAILING BOATS SAILING BEHIND TALL BUILDINGS

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) VISITOR, SAYING (SOUNDBITE STARTING OVER PREVIOUS SHOT):

"Family of ours from Austria came all the way here to see this. It's wonderful."

- JOURNALIST: "What makes it so appealing to you?"

- VISITOR: "I like everything that floats and it's all going so well. Wonderful."

12. BOATS SAILING

14. BOAT SOUNDING ITS HORN