An outdoor ceremony on open water
The ceremony is genuinely outside: guests in a half circle on deck, the ship at anchor on the IJmeer, not a building in sight.
Type of ship
Getting married on a sailing ship near Amsterdam
A classic sailing ship is the largest and most open ship in our fleet: wide decks, tall masts and open water. Where the saloon boat seeks the city, the sailing ship chooses the horizon of the IJmeer and the Markermeer. For larger groups and for couples who want to marry outdoors with nothing but sky and water around them, this is the ship.
- Our classic sailing ships carry 20 to 200 guests.
- Sailing area: the IJ, the IJmeer and the Markermeer, departing from Amsterdam or Muiden.
- The ceremony takes place outdoors on deck, with the sails as the backdrop.
- Below deck lies a heated hold with tables: the dinner room and the shelter when it rains.
- A complete wedding package on a sailing ship costs €10,000 for eight hours' exclusive use.
Why a sailing ship
What sets a sailing ship apart
A sailing ship is bigger, more open and slower than a saloon boat. That changes the rhythm of the day: more space, more outdoors, more horizon.
Room for large groups
Up to 200 guests on board, spread across the fore and aft decks and the hold. Everyone can move without it feeling crowded.
Hoisting the sails together
The crew involves guests in hoisting the mainsail. The moment the engine stops is one of the quietest of the day.
A heated hold below deck
Long tables stand in a wooden hold below deck. Dinner is served there, and in rain the ceremony moves down too.
The day on board
How a wedding day under sail unfolds
Guests board in Amsterdam or Muiden. The ship motors down the IJ towards the IJmeer, where the sails go up. For the ceremony the ship anchors or lies still under sail, so no engine noise runs under the vows.
Then come drinks on deck while the ship sails on, dinner in the hold or at long tables on the aft deck, and the party during the return leg. Arriving back in Amsterdam at dusk, the IJ skyline ahead of the bow, is the image most guests remember.
- Departure from Amsterdam or Muiden
- Ceremony at anchor or lying still under sail
- Dinner in the hold or on deck
- Return with a view of the IJ skyline
Sailing ship or saloon boat
Choosing between a sailing ship and a saloon boat
| Classic sailing ship | Historic saloon boat | |
|---|---|---|
| Guests | 20 to 200 | 2 to 60 |
| Sailing area | IJ, IJmeer, Markermeer | Canals, Amstel, IJ |
| Ceremony | Outdoors on deck | On deck or in the saloon |
| Weather | Shelter in the hold | Fully covered and heated |
| Feel | Wide, adventurous, outdoors | Intimate, warm, in the city |
Still deciding? The fleet comparison lists every ship side by side with capacity.
Frequently asked
Getting married on a sailing ship
Can we hold a legal ceremony on a sailing ship?
Yes, provided the ship is designated as a wedding venue and a registered officiant sails with you. We arrange the designation with the city.
How many guests can join on a sailing ship?
20 to 200 guests, depending on the ship and whether dinner is served. For groups up to 400 we sail two ships together.
Do you actually sail?
Yes. As soon as there is room and wind on the IJmeer or Markermeer the sails go up. With too little or too much wind the ship motors; the day always goes ahead.
What if it rains?
The hold below deck is heated and seats the whole group. Ceremony and dinner move inside.
Do guests get seasick on the IJmeer?
Rarely. The IJmeer and Markermeer are inland waters with short, low waves, and a heavy classic ship lies stable.
Where does the ship depart?
Usually from Amsterdam by the Maritime Museum or the Houthavens, or from the harbour of Muiden by Muiderslot castle.
Read on
More about weddings under sail
- View the sailing ships in the fleet
Tjalks, clippers and classic charter ships with specifications.
- Read about weddings on the IJmeer
The sailing area where most sailing weddings take place.
- Explore outdoor weddings on the water
A ceremony in the open air, on the water.