Oosterschelde in US for 250th anniversary celebrations

The historic three-masted ship Oosterschelde from Rotterdam has arrived in the United States for a series of maritime events to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence, in which it is the only Dutch ship taking part.

One of the highlights of the voyage is its participation in Sail4th New York City, where the Oosterschelde will lead the international fleet in the parade on 4 July. The organisers describe the event as the world’s largest nautical event. Millions of visitors are expected to attend the celebrations.

Voyage

The Oosterschelde, which returned to service following an extensive restoration between 1988 and 1992, remains the largest sailing ship ever restored in the Netherlands. The round trip begins in Richmond (Virginia). The ship will then call at ports including Norfolk (Virginia), Greenwich (Connecticut), Yonkers (New York), New York City (New York), Boston (Massachusetts), Quincy (Massachusetts) and Portsmouth (New Hampshire).

Honoured

The Oosterschelde will be open to visitors free of charge during all events. This will give the public the opportunity to view the historic ship and meet the crew. Captain Gerben Nab: “We are honoured that the Oosterschelde is able to take part in the celebrations marking 250 years of American independence. It will be a special occasion to represent the Netherlands and to introduce visitors to the events on board to our maritime heritage”.

Via Canada

Following the conclusion of the American programme, the Oosterschelde will set sail for Canada, where the crew will prepare for the Atlantic crossing to Spain. The three-masted ship is expected back in the Netherlands on 1 October, after spending almost ten months at sea.

Source: Oosterschelde press release.

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