Sailing ship rental World

Sailing Ships for Rent: Set Sail on a Voyage Centuries in the Making

There is something timeless about a ship under full sail. The snap of canvas catching the wind, the gentle heel of the hull as it carves through open water, the quiet that settles in once the engine is switched off and only the elements remain. Renting a sailing ship, whether for a leisurely afternoon or a multiple-day adventure, lets you step into a tradition that stretches back thousands of years while enjoying every modern comfort. Below, we explore where these magnificent vessels came from, why chartering one is such a rewarding choice, who is sailing alongside you, and the wonderful variety of ships waiting to take you out on the water.

A Brief History of Sailing Ships

Humans have been harnessing the wind for travel and trade for an astonishingly long time. The earliest known depictions of sailing vessels date back more than five thousand years, when ancient Egyptians rigged simple square sails on reed boats to glide along the Nile. From there, the story of sailing becomes the story of civilisation itself. The Phoenicians built sturdy merchant ships that crossed the Mediterranean, the Vikings struck out across the cold North Atlantic in their elegant longships, and the great trading powers of Europe and Asia gradually refined hull shapes, rigging, and navigation into ever more capable forms.

The golden age of sail arrived between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries. Towering clippers raced tea and spices across the oceans, fishing fleets worked the coastal waters, and flat-bottomed vessels were developed specifically for the shallow inland seas of the Low Countries. Here in the Netherlands, ships such as the tjalk, the klipper, and the botter were perfectly suited to navigating the Zuiderzee, the rivers, and the treacherous shallows of the Wadden. Many of these traditional Dutch sailing ships were eventually retired when steam and diesel took over commercial shipping, but rather than being scrapped, a great number were lovingly restored. Today they form a living heritage fleet, and a good portion of the ships you can charter are these very same historic vessels, preserved and given a new life carrying passengers instead of cargo.

How Sailing Ship Rentals Came to Be

The idea of renting a sailing ship for pleasure grew naturally out of this preservation movement. When traditional working ships became uneconomical for trade, their owners faced a choice: let the vessels decay or find a new purpose for them. A passionate community of skippers, shipwrights, and sailing enthusiasts chose the latter. They refitted cargo holds into comfortable cabins, modernised safety equipment, and began offering trips to anyone who wanted to experience life on the water.

What started as a niche pursuit has blossomed into a thriving way to explore coastlines and inland waters around the globe. Charter fleets now range from these characterful classic ships to sleek modern yachts built specifically for comfort and performance. The common thread is the same one that has drawn people to the sea for millennia: the desire to feel the wind, see new horizons, and slow down to the natural rhythm of sail. We are proud to bring this tradition to you with a carefully curated selection of sailing ships, ready to take you out for an unforgettable experience wherever your travels lead.

Why Renting a Sailing Ship Is a Great Choice

Choosing a sailing ship over more conventional ways to spend a day or a holiday comes with a long list of rewards. Here are some of the reasons our guests keep coming back to the water.

A genuine escape from everyday life

Once the lines are cast off and the harbour shrinks behind you, the ordinary world fades away. There are no traffic jams, no notifications demanding attention, just open water and the steady work of the sails. Few experiences offer such a complete change of pace, which is exactly why a sailing trip feels so restorative.

Perfect for groups and celebrations

A sailing ship is a wonderful setting for a gathering. Whether you are organising a family reunion, a company outing, a birthday, or a wedding, the shared adventure brings people together in a way that a restaurant table simply cannot. Many ships can accommodate sizeable groups, and the journey itself becomes the highlight of the occasion.

Flexibility to suit any plan

Charters come in every length and flavour. You can opt for a relaxed few hours with drinks and a barbecue on deck, or commit to a multiple-day voyage with overnight stays aboard. You can plan a route in advance with your skipper or let the wind and weather guide you to wherever feels right on the day.

Access to places you cannot reach otherwise

Some of the most beautiful corners of the coast are only accessible by boat. Quiet anchorages, remote islands, and stretches of water where the only sounds are seabirds and lapping waves become open to you the moment you step aboard.

An environmentally gentle way to travel

When the sails are up and the engine is off, a sailing ship moves on wind power alone. There are few quieter or cleaner ways to explore the natural world, and the experience connects you directly to the elements rather than insulating you from them.

About the Crew

One of the greatest pleasures of a crewed charter is that you can simply relax and enjoy yourself while seasoned professionals take care of everything. When you book a sailing cruise with a crew aboard, there is no need to get cold feet, even if you have never set foot on a boat before. No sailing experience is required at all.

Our captains and crew are experienced sailors who know their ships and their waters intimately. Many have spent decades on the water and carry a deep knowledge of local tides, currents, weather patterns, and hidden gems along the route. They handle the navigation, the sail trimming, and the safety of everyone on board, leaving you free to soak up the views, share a meal, or simply close your eyes and feel the motion of the sea.

That said, you are very welcome to take a more active role if you wish. The captain and crew are always happy to show you the ropes, quite literally, so you can help hoist a sail, take a turn at the helm, and feel what it is like to be a genuine member of the team. Whether you want to be a passenger or a deckhand for the day, the choice is yours, and the crew will make sure you feel at home either way. Their warmth and storytelling often turn out to be just as memorable as the sailing itself.

Different Types of Sailing Ships

Part of the joy of chartering is discovering the wonderful variety of vessels available. Each type has its own character, history, and ideal use. Here is an overview of some of the ships you are likely to encounter.

Traditional Dutch flat-bottomed ships

These historic vessels were purpose-built for the shallow waters of the Netherlands and remain icons of the country's maritime heritage. The tjalk is a broad, sturdy cargo ship with a distinctive rounded bow, while the klipper is sleeker and faster with a sharper hull. The botter and the aak were traditionally fishing vessels. Restored and converted for passengers, these ships offer a wonderfully authentic experience, complete with leeboards instead of a fixed keel, allowing them to sail in remarkably shallow water and even to fall dry on the seabed at low tide.

Tall ships and schooners

For something truly majestic, the larger tall ships and multi-masted schooners are hard to beat. With towering masts and an impressive spread of canvas, these vessels evoke the romance of the great age of sail. They are ideal for larger groups and longer voyages, and being aboard one as the crew works the rigging is a spectacle in itself.

Classic sailing yachts

Elegant wooden or steel-hulled yachts from the early and mid twentieth century combine timeless beauty with a more intimate scale. They are perfect for smaller parties who want a touch of vintage glamour alongside their sailing.

Modern sailing yachts and catamarans

If contemporary comfort is your priority, modern monohull yachts and spacious catamarans offer generous cabins, stable platforms, and easy handling. Catamarans in particular are popular for their roominess and gentle motion, making them a favourite for relaxed cruising and for guests who prefer minimal heeling.

Day-sailers and smaller boats

For shorter outings or for experienced sailors who want to take the helm themselves, smaller sailboats provide an accessible and lively way to enjoy a few hours on the water without the commitment of a larger vessel.

Our Worldwide Sailing Ship Rentals

We are proud to share a wide selection of sailing ships around the world, ready to take you out for an unforgettable experience. We offer both sailing cruises with an experienced crew aboard and, for those who are already capable sailors themselves, the option to rent a sailboat to skipper on your own. Whatever your level of experience and whatever kind of trip you have in mind, there is a ship and a stretch of water waiting for you.

Sailing Charters in the Netherlands

As an Amsterdam-based company, we are specialised in sailing cruises in the Netherlands. So if you are visiting our wonderful city, you should certainly explore the possibilities to set sail from Amsterdam. The options are endless: from a four-hour sailing trip on the IJ river with a drink and a barbecue, to a multiple-day voyage across the IJsselmeer, one of the largest freshwater lakes in Europe, and on to the Wadden Sea.

Apart from Amsterdam, we have a fleet of sailing ships in the charming harbours of Monnickendam, Enkhuizen, and Hoorn. In the north we provide sailing charters from the famous harbour towns of Harlingen and Makkum in Friesland. Most ships departing from these harbours are capable of sailing not only the IJsselmeer and the Frisian Lakes, but also the Wadden Sea.

No Sailing Experience Required

When booking a crewed sailing cruise with us, there is genuinely no need to worry about your lack of experience. All of our ships in the Netherlands have experienced crews aboard, so you can sit back and relax while gliding across the water. And if you would like to take a more active role during your cruise, that is no problem at all. The captain and crew are delighted to show you the ropes so you can become a real part of the team.

Sailing Cruises on the Wadden Sea

In the north of the Netherlands, above the province of Friesland, lies a true pearl: the Wadden Sea, known in Dutch as the Waddenzee. This is the largest unbroken tidal flats system in the world, stretching from the Dutch coast all the way to Germany and Denmark. There is simply no better way to explore this remarkable area than by boat. Our captains know this dynamic landscape by heart and love to share their knowledge with you.

An absolute must when going on a Wadden cruise is to let your ship fall dry during low tide. It is a truly unique experience to watch the seabed emerge around you and realise that you have actually come to rest on the bottom of the sea. Once your ship is settled, you can climb down and walk across the flats. When the tide returns, the water gradually floods the flats once more, your ship lifts off, and you can continue your journey. We highly recommend docking in the harbours of one or more of the Wadden Islands, such as Terschelling, Texel, Schiermonnikoog, and Vlieland, each with its own distinct charm.

We provide Wadden Sea cruises from the harbours of Monnickendam, Enkhuizen, Rotterdam, Harlingen, and Makkum in Friesland.

Ready to Set Sail?

Whether you dream of a relaxed afternoon on the IJ, a stately tall ship adventure, or the unforgettable thrill of falling dry on the Wadden Sea, there is a sailing ship ready and waiting for you. Browse our worldwide selection, pick the experience that calls to you, and let an experienced crew carry you out onto the water. The wind is up, the sails are ready, and a voyage centuries in the making is waiting to begin.