Once every four years, the Tall Ships Races come to Antwerp. They’ve been sponsored by Sail Training International since 1956. Despite the name, the emphasis is on teaching young people to sail these magnificent ships, rather than the race. During the event, the trainees sail to multiple cities along that year’s route. The novice sailors learn how to perform the various tasks needed to sail a tall ship. When they’re in port, they get to explore the city.
We were invited to join a group to watch the Tall Ships Races. We were a bit disappointed that there would be no races on the appointed day, but each of the ships was lined up along the waterfront of the Scheldt for on-board exploration or admiration from afar. There was a festival atmosphere with lots of food booths, musical acts, and a ferris wheel. Later in the afternoon, there was a parade of the young sailors: each nationality had a group in the parade and they looked mighty happy and proud of themselves. Shelly and I had a front row seat because the parade passed right in front of the restaurant we had stopped at!
The Tall Ships Races for 2026 occurred from July 10-14. Make sure to visit Antwerp in 2030 for the next round!
July 12, 2026