AMSTERDAM, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Sail Amsterdam, the Netherlands' major maritime festival first held 50 years ago, kicked off its 10th edition on Wednesday after a decade-long break.
The festival officially began with the traditional Sail-In Parade along the North Sea Canal and IJ River, led by the three-masted clipper Stad Amsterdam (City of Amsterdam). The vessel was welcomed with cannon salutes and a flyover by jets from the Royal Dutch Air Force.
This year's fleet included ships of all sizes, from ultramodern to classic, and from around the world. Festivalgoers took to the water in small boats, joining the fleet as it made its way toward IJ Harbor in Amsterdam.
Organizers expect more than 800 ships and some 2 million visitors during the five-day festival, which runs until August 24.
More than 200 events will take place on land and water, including cultural performances, naval demonstrations, educational exhibits, ship tours and sailing excursions.
Founded in 1975 to mark Amsterdam's 700th anniversary, Sail Amsterdam is held every five years. The 2020 edition was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the extended gap before this year's return.
