Ostend at Anchor transforms the coastal city into Venice

The maritime festival ‘Ostend at Anchor’ will take over the city from 1 to 4 June this year with everything the maritime world has to offer. Visitors can board more than 150 ships and learn all about the history and future of the seven seas ashore.

Venetian shipyards

During Ostend at Anchor you will be presented with an unusual sight: gondolas that sail around in the Mercatordok with the necessary flag display. With the three types of gondolas, Gondole del Settecento, Mussin ‘Albino’ and Gondolino ‘Giorgio’, you will be able to sail on a daily basis. The three types have their own specificity, with the ‘Giorgio’ being the best known, as it is the basic vessel of today’s gondolas used for the thousands of tourists in Venice. (continue reading below the photo)

In addition to these traditional vessels, all crafts needed for the construction of a ‘gondola’ are also present on Sint-Petrus- en -Paulusplein. In the craft village you can see blacksmiths as well as woodworkers and craftsmen at work who are responsible for the decoration of the vessels. You can get expert explanations about, for example, the asymmetrical shape of the vessel, which is necessary for easy propulsion.