The North Sea's largest festival – "Ostend at Anchor" – will have Venetian boats as its central theme this year.
Taking place from 1 to 4 June, visitors will be able to climb aboard more than 150 ships, including different types of gondolas.
This year, an “innovation village” was also announced, where various North Sea companies and organisations will be presenting their projects to attendees. Presenters will include supermarket chain Colruyt and the Antwerp Maritime Academy.
During the festival, Venetian gondolas will sail across Belgian waters. The 'Giorgio' gondola, the most common vessel deployed in Venetian canals, will be among the three types of gondolas on display.
Traditional blacksmiths, woodworkers and craftworkers who decorate the hand-built gondolas of Italy will also be at the event.
“In a city surrounded by water, gondolas have played an important role for centuries in transporting people and goods along the narrow, shallow canals. Venice, therefore, has a rich maritime history,” explains exhibition curator Hubert Rubbens.
In addition to the gondolas, the Atlantis and the Morgenster, two giant ships of the high seas, will also be at the festival. Fans will still be able to set sail on board the George Stephenson and the Jantje ships.
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“We are already looking forward to the biggest maritime event on the coast,” Ostend’s mayor, Bart Tommelein said. “Ostend at Anchor is a fantastic four-day event that allows Ostenders and visitors to discover everything about sailing. This year, for the first time, we also take a look at our maritime future, with a real ‘innovation village’.”
