Full of opportunities
Stad Amsterdam is a ship brimming with history, built to create new opportunities for young and old. Discover the story behind our remarkable sailing ship and the people who make your unforgettable journey possible.
SUSTAINABILITY IS IN OUR DNA
Sustainability is part of the Clipper’s DNA as well as that of the shipping company. Life at sea means being very close to nature. On board there is a lot of respect for the environment and its preservation. As sailing enthusiasts, we strive to cover as many miles as possible under sail.
The large-scale refit in 2019/2020 resulted in a major step being taken regarding the sustainable course of Clipper Stad Amsterdam. The ship now has much cleaner and more efficient engines for both propulsion and power supply.
An exhaust gas treatment installation has been installed and the ship has been fitted with a new wastewater treatment installation to fulfil future requirements of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). In order not to have to switch on the generator in the port, thereby not having to burn unnecessary diesel, an improved shore power connection has been implemented.
The Clipper Story
What makes the Clipper unique is that she has the best of two worlds. She is designed after the commercial tall ships of the late nineteenth century when maritime trade was at its peak, she even won the prestigious Tall Ships Race in 2001 due to its impressive speed. At the same time she is fully equipped with state-of-the-art sustainable shippings systems of today. Stad Amsterdam is the official flagship of the city of Amsterdam and the five-yearly nautical event SAIL Amsterdam.
The concept
The beginning; SAIL Amsterdam 1995
The idea of designing and constructing the ship was conceived originally as a work and skills preservation and education project for the City of Amsterdam. It was jointly commissioned by Frits Goldschmeding, founder of Randstad Holding, and the Amsterdam City Council. World-renowned naval architect and former sailing champion Gerard Dijkstra drew up the design.
The name; Clipper Stad Amsterdam
Many ships have carried “Amsterdam” in their name, and many still do so today. But this ship is one of the very few examples of a true ocean going sailing ship using Clipper design and sailing principles.
The design
Authentic but modern at the same time
After Goldschmeding and the City of Amsterdam made the financial arrangements, the real work began. Former professional sailing champion and world-famous naval architect Gerard Dijkstra designed a ship that had to deliver top performance under water and conquer the hearts and minds of sailing enthusiasts above water.
The ship was designed starting from the final designs of the era where commercial sailing ships tried to compete with those propelled by coal and steam. With today’s technology, it was possible to make improvements to the hull shape, further enhancing the performance of the ship. For a Clipper, the ship is relatively long and wide, as it has been conceived as a ship with passenger cabins rather than a freighter.
The construction
The constructions begins
In December 1997, work began on the steel hull at Niron Steel – part of Shipdock shipyard in Amsterdam.
Upon completion in December 1998, the skeleton was transferred to the Scheepvaartmuseum in Amsterdam, where the rest of the construction was completed. The radiant woodwork, exuberant copper ornamentation, impressive staircase and ornate details showed the pinnacle of modern Dutch craftsmanship.
Goldschmeding enjoyed the construction process and, as is his style, made sure the project provided opportunities for school leavers and the unemployed. The chance to work with master craftsmen gave them a set of skills that would later help them find new jobs.
The ship was launched in the year 2000. Rita Kok, wife of then Prime Minister Wim Kok, christened the ship. The Clipper was first shown to the public during the SAIL Amsterdam 2000 event.
First race
De Cutty Sark Tall Ship Race
The Clipper Stad Amsterdam has won the Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race for the first time.
The Cutty Sark Tall Ship Race is an annual race focusing on international friendship and training young people in the art of sailing. The race, consisting of two stages of several hundred nautical miles, is sailed in European waters. Half of the sailing crew must consist of young people.
SAIL Amsterdam
Royalty on board
The clipper sailed across the IJ as the flagship for the SAIL Amsterdam event in 2005, with at the helm, then Crown Prince Willem Alexander.
The beagle trip
Beagle, in the wake of Darwin
Commissioned by VPRO, the Clipper Stad Amsterdam departs from Plymouth for an eight-month voyage commemorating the bicentennial of the birth of Charles Darwin, the world-famous biologist, natural scientist and geologist. From 1831 to 1836, he sailed around the world aboard the Beagle, a voyage repeated by the Clipper Stad Amsterdam. His theory of the evolution of species by natural selection was developed primarily during Darwin’s original voyage.
Curious? Watch all episodes here!
The big refit
The road to sustainability
Fitted from the start with modern navigation equipment in addition to the classic compass-and-sextant, it also has systems for supporting the passengers, a diesel powered drive, generators and a bow propeller. At the last major overhaul in 2020-2021, it was further enhanced with state of the art “clean” engines and generators, shore power capability and quite a few other features. This makes it also one of the cleanest ships of its size when it is not using sails only, with an impressive reduction of CO2 and NOx emissions compared with almost all other ships today. It is also planned to apply the new partly bio HVO fuels available by the summer of 2023.
Wondering what that looked like?? Click here to see how it went.
World Tour
Stad Amsterdam Around the World
Over the past decades, the ship’s guest list has been as impressive as it is diverse. From young people of all walks of life and educational backgrounds to heads of state, ambassadors, and royalty – and from first-time sailors to seasoned sea adventurers, the Clipper has welcomed them all aboard.
In the summer of 2023, the Clipper set sail on a two-year circumnavigation of the globe. As on previous voyages, her passengers come from all corners of society. The Stad Amsterdam departs from her home port, crosses the Atlantic Ocean, and – after transiting the Panama Canal – continues on to San Francisco, Hawaii, Japan, China, Indonesia, Australia, Singapore, India, the Maldives, Mauritius, and Cape Town in South Africa.
Following preparations and resupply in Cape Town, the Clipper embarks on the longest leg of her journey. She sets sail for the remote island of St Helena, then heads westward across the Atlantic to St Maarten and the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Sea.
Next, the East Coast of the United States welcomes the Clipper, with calls to Baltimore, New York, and Boston. In New York, the first-ever international edition of the Prinsengrachtconcert will take place in celebration of Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary and its historic ties with the city.
The final stretch is a youth voyage across the Atlantic, calling at the Azores and Brest. In August 2025, after two years at sea, the Stad Amsterdam completes her circumnavigation and returns proudly to her home waters: Amsterdam.
Sail
August 2025 – SAIL Amsterdam
With a logbook brimming with tales from two years at sea, the Clipper returns to Amsterdam in August. During the grand arrival of SAIL 2025, she will take her place at the helm as the flagship, leading a majestic fleet of hundreds of vessels – from historic sailing ships and tall ships to sleek yachts and modern motorboats.
Visitors to SAIL are warmly invited aboard the Stad Amsterdam to explore the ship, meet her crew, and take in the splendid views across the IJ.
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Sustainable MERCHANDISE
In 2019, we renewed our merchandise collection. The clothing we sell in our shop onboard and online is made from sustainable materials and produced in a responsible, ecological way. In addition to being of higher quality, we feel it our responsibility to sell products that have been sourced with care.
The team
The crew on board
The crew of the Stad Amsterdam consists of 20 to 30 experienced sailors and young sailors in training, originating from ten or twelve different countries at the same time. Therefore, the primary language spoken onboard is English.
All positions are double-manned. While one part works onboard, the other part is on leave. All crew members are not only trained to sail the Stad Amsterdam but also have a great passion for the ship. They are eager to convey that feeling to our guests. The captain, along with three officers, leads the crew.
The team at the office
The crew ashore plans the trips, arranges logistical, technical and general matters, prepares events, stays in touch with the crew on board and takes care of internal and external communication.
Upper row: Anne Cornelissen, Reinoud van der Heijden, Ernst de Haan, Evert van Dishoeck and Sanne Lutz.
Below: Hester Ozinga (freelance), Babette Vriezen, Ineke Eibergen, Maartje Terwindt and Dominique Neumann.
Frits Goldschmeding
In memoriam.
Sad, but grateful for what he meant to us, we learned of the passing of Frits Goldschmeding. Frits passed away on Friday July 26, 2024 at the age of 90.
His spirit, support and involvement were decisive for the construction and operation of the Clipper Stad Amsterdam.