Since 1956, the Tall Ships Races have been an annually reoccurring event in which tall ships from all over the world sail a particular route. The event is intended to enable young people, under the age of 25, to experience the sea and to sail on traditional ships. That’s why half the crew consists of young people between the ages of 15 and 25. The route calls at four cities: Esbjerg in Denmark, Harlingen in Fryslân, Antwerp in Belgium and Aalborg in Denmark. These hospitable cities welcome the ships and offer a safe and cultural haven.
Dates: 17 to 19 June 2022
The historical Entrepotgebouw venue on Nieuwe Willemshaven is hosting a film programme suitable for all ages. It presents a taster of the impressive Tall Ships Races and has set sail to become the newest film festival in the Netherlands. From January 2023 on, every year in the week starting on Blue Monday, the Harlingen Film Festival will make land in the harbour. Blue Monday is the third Monday in January, the beginning of the darkest and most difficult week of the year. The festival provides light and, of course, will focus on the theme of seas and oceans in all their different facets. Ranging from their beauty to their vulnerability and from rugged sailors’ stories to the dynamics of port cities. Including feature films and documentaries, visual art and music. In the runup to the 2022 Harlingen Tall Ships Races, there will be a teaser for this film festival which will launch next year. The tides wait for no one, so mark January 2023 in your diary and come and be inspired in June.
Dates 14 to 17 July 2022
Artists and children join forces to draw attention to the vulnerability of seas and oceans. During the Tall Ships Races parade, all the ships will sail across the Wadden Sea to Harlingen, using a sail decorated by children. Flapping and inflated by the wind, their dreams will become visible. This colourful manifesto for the protection of our seas is based on the dreams of children from the countries of origin of the majestic tall ships and children from Fryslân. After the ships dock in Harlingen, the painted sails will be given a new life as bags. These unique bags will be made during the four-day Tall Ships Races festival. The proceeds will go to projects and organisations which advocate for sustainability and for vulnerable regions that have suffered ecological disasters.
