GAASTRA and Sneekweek announce their partnership for Sneekweek #89. This brings together two institutions that have their roots in the Frisian water sports town of Sneek and have stood for sailing, maritime culture and community for generations.
The cooperation also marks the start of a special anniversary year: While Sneekweek 2027 celebrates its 90th anniversary, GAASTRA looks back on 130 years of company history. Both are connected not only by their origins from Sneek, but also by their role as formative ambassadors of a maritime culture that radiates far beyond the borders of the Netherlands.
GAASTRA was founded in 1897 by sailmaker Douwe Gaastra in Sneek. A traditional sailmaking workshop developed into an internationally known water sports and lifestyle brand that to this day stands for authenticity, craftsmanship and a passion for life on the water.
Today the headquarters of GAASTRA Sportswear is in Hoppegarten near Berlin. There, the brand will be strategically developed and repositioned under Clinton’s leadership. The aim is to re-establish GAASTRA as a modern international lifestyle brand with authentic maritime DNA and to make the combination of sailing, functionality and contemporary design tangible for a new generation. The partnership with Sneekweek is much more than a classic sponsorship. It symbolizes the return to the origins of the brand and the simultaneous further development of its future.
“The connection between GAASTRA and Sneekweek is something very special. Both institutions were founded in Sneek and share the same values: passion for sailing, community, tradition and looking forward. The fact that we are working together on the way to our 130th anniversary with Sneekweek, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary next year, makes this partnership particularly significant for us,” says Peter Erlach, Marketing Lead at GAASTRA.
The Sneekweek has been one of the most important water sports events in Europe for decades. From July 31st to August 6th, 2026, the city of Sneek will be all about sailing. During the day, spectacular regattas on the Sneekermeer provide sporting highlights, while the city center is transformed into a lively festival mile with sporting and cultural activities until late at night. The unique combination of top sport, tradition and community attracts over 300,000 participants and visitors from home and abroad every year. The organizers of Sneekweek also see the cooperation as a connection that goes far beyond a classic sponsorship partnership.
“GAASTRA is part of the maritime history of our city. The brand was founded here and has stood for sailing for generations. We are all the more pleased to be able to build a bridge between tradition and the future together. The partnership strengthens our communities and creates real added value for the many people who make Sneekweek something special year after year,” explains the Sneekweek Foundation.
As part of the cooperation, Sneekweek is seen as an active partner, platform and part of GAASTRA’s brand world. At the same time, the communities on both sides should be connected more closely and shared added value should be created. One of the first joint projects is a limited Sneekweek #89 x GAASTRA polo shirt edition, which is limited to just 300 copies. The special edition combines the identities of both brands and makes their common origins visible.
The activation is complemented by joint social media campaigns, content production during the event, community competitions, editorial collaborations and various communication measures via digital and traditional channels. The focus is not just on the visibility of the brand, but on promoting a culture that has shaped both partners for decades: the enthusiasm for sailing, life on the water and the community that arises from it.
With this partnership, GAASTRA and Sneekweek are opening a new chapter in their shared history. They combine past and future, tradition and modernity, as well as sport and lifestyle – based on the conviction that sailing is much more than a competition: it is part of a culture that connects people.