ROTTERDAM, 8 September 2025 – The 48th edition of the World Port Days has concluded. Over 400,000 visitors gathered along the city’s waterfront during the three-day maritime event.
World Port Days draws large crowds to the waterfront
The 48th edition of the Wereldhavendagen (World Port Days) came to a close on Sunday evening in Rotterdam. Spread across three days, the annual event once again drew substantial interest from both locals and visitors. According to the organisers, an estimated 400,000 people attended the festivities, which were centred around the Erasmus Bridge and extended along the city’s river quays.
Mild late-summer weather and a diverse programme contributed to consistent foot traffic. The busiest moments were observed over the weekend, with particularly large crowds turning out on Saturday evening for the ship parade, an evening show and a fireworks display over the river.
Maritime and cultural activities across the city
Despite high temperatures on Sunday, visitors continued to arrive steadily throughout the day. Attendees participated in boat tours, behind-the-scenes harbour excursions and exhibitions showcasing future innovations in maritime technology along the so-called ‘Innovatiekade’ (innovation quay).
The Royal Netherlands Navy offered demonstrations of maritime safety procedures, while parts of the Rijnhaven were repurposed into public-friendly zones for relaxation and open-air activities. Several museums also contributed to the event by offering educational activities for school children.
Attendance and highlights
The 2025 edition featured the participation of 66 maritime companies and organisations, alongside 34 docked ships open to the public. A total of 33 live shows were held on the water, involving 80 vessels, three drones, three helicopters, two parachutists, one aircraft and five F-35 fighter jets.
Over 17,000 tickets were sold for 447 tours and excursions, many organised in collaboration with 41 port-related businesses. On Friday, more than 1,500 young people and jobseekers from both the Netherlands and abroad attended the MATCH Career Event. Additionally, 800 primary school pupils visited participating museums, and 350 students took part in a hackathon hosted at FENIX Migration Museum.
Food and drink stalls across the event’s hospitality zones reportedly served around 15,000 scoops of ice cream. An estimated 170 volunteers were involved in making the event possible.
Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond
Next year’s World Port Days is scheduled for 4, 5 and 6 September 2026. Organisers have also confirmed that preparations are already underway for the 50th edition in 2027, which is expected to mark a milestone in the event’s history.
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