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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, Morgenster

From € 750,-

Book this journey

Exchange@sea Powered by Erasmus+ Sail Training

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

Book this journey

Morgenster:
Rostock (DE) - IJmuiden (NL)

11 August - 19 August 2025

Sustainable Exchange@sea on board the Morgenster with the Iris. For participants from Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Estonia, Ireland and Hungary. Set course for sustainability with this unique, 2-ship project. Join the Morgenster or Iris 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.

About the Journey

Sail a tall ship from Germany to the Netherlands, exploring the stunning North Sea coastline with an international crew of young participants. Take the helm and steer a majestic Tall Ship toward the horizon — feel the thrill of guiding such a powerful vessel! Work together to hoist the sails, harnessing the wind to carry you to your next destination. Chart your course, track your progress, and immerse yourself in an adventure you’ll never forget.

Join The Ocean Movement and take part in vital plastic research at sea. Learn about marine ecosystems and the impact of human activity on our oceans. Use a Manta trawl to collect and analyze microplastic samples, contributing to a global database for worldwide research. Organize beach clean-ups and connect with local communities to drive meaningful change. Get hands-on by crafting plastic-free cosmetics and brainstorming creative solutions for a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Make friends across borders (and ships!) and share your culture while sailing the ship together. Explore the similarities and differences between your countries, cook your national dish for the crew, and create an international playlist for the journey! Join fun games and activities led by mentors and challenge yourself both on board and on shore. With Exchange@Sea, every moment is an adventure — there’s never a dull moment!

No budget? No problem! The Windseeker Dinghy will help you get on board. More than just fundraising training, Dinghy is a personal development program, and is included in the Exchanges. With the guidance of an experienced coach, you'll raise funds for your journey while learning valuable life skills and discovering new things about yourself. It’s also a fantastic way to connect with other trainees before your adventure begins. Simply let us know during booking if you’d like to part.

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)

Sponsorship and costs

This journey is co-founded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. The subsidized youth price for this journey is € 750,- per trainee instead of the regular price of € 1000.

Traveling to-and-from the ports will be reimbursed by the Erasmus+ Program of the European Union. Reimbursement up to a certain amount, depending on the trainee’s country (according to the rules of the Erasmus+ Program).

Maximum possible reimbursement: from € 180 to € 320, depending on the country of origin and mode of transport (there is a higher subsidy for green travel options). The reimbursement will take place several months after the journey, based on receipts and tickets.

The participants of this and other Erasmus+ journeys can join the Dinghy fundraising program for free (without the usual € 75 fee.)

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: Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Estonia, Ireland and Hungary.
  • Windseekers joining: maximum 36
  • 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: sleeping bags and towels
  • Participants might need to become members of their National Sail Training Associations (any additional fees for this are included in the journey price).
  • "An amazing adventure that teaches you things you will never learn somewhere else."

    Claire (20)

You sail on the Morgenster

Shipping type: Brig
Homeport: Den Helder (NL)
Date built: 1919
Trainees: 35
Length: 48 m
Height of mast: 29 m
Sail: 600 m2

Stop and Stare. This is what Marian and Harry Muter – the owners – had in mind, when people would look upon the Morgenster. And they succeeded. As a result of their refit, the Morgenster is a stunning and elegant …

Read more

Windseeker logs

  • Almost Home

    Oosterschelde

    Cape Verde - Netherlands

    – by crew Oosterschelde

    In a way we’re having bad luck: the English Channel is an area with a lot of traffic. Unfortunately we cannot see it. On our last day at sea the temperature dropped till 7 degrees (above zero, fortunately) and the …

    Read log
  • Fun day out with friends

    Wadden Sea, October 2020

    All photos courtesy of BTOWU

    – by Nienke

    Besides providing us with super awesome, smart, science people to ensure the high quality of the sustainability side of our Exchange programs, By the Ocean we Unite also organize their own things. Like ‘citizen science’ day trips, during which folks …

    Read log

Photos

  • Dolphins
See more

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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.