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Join a sailing adventure on a Tall Ship and set course for new horizons!

Rostock (DE) - IJmuiden (NL)

11 August - 19 August 2025

8 days, Iris

From € 750,-

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Exchange@sea Powered by Erasmus+ Sail Training

15-25: € 750,-
26-28 (at request): € 1000,-

Book this journey

Iris:
Rostock (DE) - IJmuiden (NL)

11 August - 19 August 2025

Sustainable Exchange@sea on board the Iris with the Morgenster. For participants from Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Estonia, Ireland and Hungary. Set course for sustainability with this unique, 2-ship project. Join the Iris or Morgenster for an exciting adventure, sailing from Rostock in Germany to IJmuiden, near Amsterdam. Sail the ship, conduct plastic research with The Ocean Movement scientist, and make international friends, supported by helpful mentors. Have regular meetings with trainees from the other vessel, getting together on shore to exchange sea stories and share activities like beach cleanups and games. Learn new things about plastic in the ocean, other countries, and yourself – and have an unforgettable experience!
For young Windseekers aged 15-25, ages 26-28 at request. Participate in Dinghy to raise money for your journey and learn new things about yourself.
Important: you are registering for a whole project, which will be held on two vessels. We will ask for your preference, but we do not guarantee that you’ll end up on your first choice of ship.

Ports

Rostock is a large city on the Warnow River, and home to one of the oldest universities in the world. One of the most picturesque places in Rostock is the Neuer Markt (New Market Square), with the Town Hall - that was originally built in the 13th century in Brick Gothic style. The square also preserved six original, carefully restored gable houses from the 15th and 16th centuries. There are a lot more historical and cultural sights to see in this city. So go ahead, and explore!

IJmuiden, on the west coast of the Netherlands, is the water gateway to Amsterdam. Cruise ships, cargo vessels and pleasure yachts pass through its busy locks every day while the IJmuiden marina provides an excellent shelter from the North Sea storms. IJmuiden offers a wide, sandy beach that is popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers. Behind the dunes you’ll find a small nature reserve, perfect for a hike or a run. IJmuiden’s restaurants serve fresh fish, straight from the local market.

  • IJmuiden (NL)

Key points

  • Dates: 11 August 2025 - 19 August 2025
  • Embarkation: 17:00 / Disembarkation: 10:00
  • For Windseekers 15-25 years, age 26-28 at request
  • Participating countries: the Netherlands, Germany, Estonia, Hungary and Norway.
  • Windseekers joining: 12
  • No sailing experience required!
  • Official language on board: English
  • Price includes: accommodation and meals, excludes drinks at the bar
  • Travel to-and-from ports will be reimbursed under Erasmus+ regulations (rules apply)
  • Windseekers need to have a health insurance and a travel insurance
  • Need to take with you on board: towels
  • Participants might need to become members of their National Sail Training Associations (any additional fees for this are included in the journey price).

  • "I became much more confident and explored my limits."

    Aron (18)

You sail on the Iris

Shipping type: Herring Logger
Homeport: Rotterdam (NL)
Date built: 1916
Trainees: 12
Length: 36 m
Height of mast: 26 m
Sail: 400 m2

Liv and Jans have been sailing together for many years, from the North Sea and Baltic to the Atlantic. They got to know many different ships before becoming the proud owners of Iris, giving the Ship their heart and soul. The …

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Windseeker logs

  • Arrival at Mindelo, Sao Vicente

    Europa

    Mindelo, Sao Vicente

    – by Windseeker Jules

    All the things to do: maintenance on board, going for a walk down town, having a beach day, taking a taxi around the island, exploring neighbouring islands by ferry, going out to eat and drink... A jolly good time it was …

    Read log

  • Sustainable sailing: plastic research in 2023

    Gulden Leeuw, Thalassa, July 2023

    – by Maarten Erich, The Ocean Movement

    The Ocean Movement Foundation We are on a mission to stop plastic pollution from ending up in our ocean. With the Manta trawl, we are gathering data on microplastic pollution in the waters that we sail in. Together with the trainees …

    Read log

Photos

  • Trainees
  • Trainee

OTHER JOURNEYS YOU MIGHT LIKE

STO Garant

This Journey is covered by the STO Garant guarantee. You can find the conditions for this guarantee scheme on STO Garant’s website (www.sto-garant.nl/en/downloads).

This process is automatic and you do not need to do anything else. After receiving your booking, Windseeker will send you detailed information on how and when to pay for your journey – together with all the other important details.

 

What does it mean?

In short: you do not pay the booking amount to Windseeker but instead into an escrow account. This trust account holds your payment in reserve until your journey’s end. The booking amount is then released to Windseeker on the day after your trip ends. If Windseeker or the Ship should become financially insolvent before the end of your trip, STO Garant will implement the guarantee. The Guarantee Scheme details how you can make a claim under the guarantee in such cases. You can read more about this here.