If you’re looking for something to do next year in June, we’d highly recommend DelfSail 2024. According to the official organizer, the event will take place in Delfzijl from Thursday, June 13, through Monday, June 16, 2024.
DelfSail is a huge draw for Groningers and visitors alike. Thousands of visitors flock to the harbor of Delfzijl to see the sail and tall ships festooned with flags, pennants, and decorations. The nautical event takes place every five years and was first started way back in 1986. In 2021, it was canceled due to the pandemic, so you can expect DelfSail 2024 to be an incredibly popular and poignant spectacle.
Official ships
You can expect a huge array of ships to partake in DelfSail 2024. The event in 2016 ended up with well over 200 ships involved (not all tall/sail ships), but you can expect the 2024 edition to attract even more. You can check nearer the time to see the ships involved in the event. The organizers have confirmed, however, that they already signed contracts with two extraordinary participants, both hailing from Spain. These ships have never been seen before in Delfzijl or elsewhere in the Netherlands during any nautical events.
El Galeon
The first ship is a replica of a Spanish galleon and is built to the full scale of such ships. These ships are believed to have transported gold and silver from the New World to Spain, bringing great prosperity to the nation. The architectural style of these ships is remarkable and dates back to the period between the 16th and 18th centuries. In addition to sailing to Latin America, they also made frequent voyages to the Philippines and other countries in Asia. Often, the fleets consisted of 30 or more of these vessels when they set sail from Spain. Many ships were lost to storms or piracy.
‘El Galeon’ has a length of nearly 50 meters and sits high on the water. Since 2010, the ship has sailed over 48,000 nautical miles, covering the world’s largest seas, including the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, and the South China Sea. It has already toured several ports in the United States to a warm welcome from local of visitors.
Pascual Flores
The second ship, the ‘Pascual Flores,’ is a completely different type of vessel: an authentic white three-masted schooner measuring 43 meters in length, built in Spain in 1917. Unlike El Galeon, this is a restored ship. This specific type of ship specialized in transporting salt, vegetables, and fruit in the early 1920s. During its active service, it sailed mainly the seas around Africa and southern European countries. It will make its first acquaintance with North European ports upon its entry to DelfSail 2024.
Delfzijl has always been a city with water close to its heart. So whenever DelfSail comes around, thousands gather to wave in the ships sailing into the port, as well as to experience maritime-themed performances and concerts, and lap up the chance to climb aboard both the old and new ships.
The event will offer a comprehensive program for audiences of all ages, catering to both the young and old. The organizers say DelfSail also considers the needs of vulnerable individuals, the elderly, and special target groups.
