Maritime Square showcases the values of the sea on land and into the future

The Tall Ships Races is about ships, but also about the sea they sail on and the crew on board. It’s about community, growth, and young people gaining new perspectives. These very values form the core of Maritime Square – a living platform in the middle of the festivities, where visitors can feel the call of the sea and experience how life on the water shapes people.

As the host city, Esbjerg uses The Tall Ships Races for more than just celebration and colour. The international event leaves lasting impressions. With a focus on education and career opportunities at sea, sustainable solutions, and local communities, seeds are planted at Maritime Square that will grow into the future. Here, connections are forged between experiences and opportunities that reach far beyond the four days of celebration. Esbjerg’s role as host is about creating a development where the event itself becomes a catalyst for long-term benefits in education, business growth, and the city’s position as an EnergyMetropolis.

The sea as a career path

In collaboration with Fredericia Maskinmesterskole, Skoleskibsforeningen, and the Danish Sail Training Association, the square offers not just information, but inspiration. The goal is to spark a flame – the same flame the sailing ships ignite in the young people who travelled from Kristiansand to Esbjerg on the final leg of the race.

“The Tall Ships Races is about sending young people out to sea, but also on a journey within themselves. They return with new skills and a belief that they can achieve more than they imagined. We do the same at Maritime Square – only with firm ground beneath their feet. We show that the sea isn’t just something you look at. It’s something you can be part of,” says Event Manager Kirsten Bisgaard Kirchner.

EnergyMetropolis Esbjerg

Maritime Square also demonstrates what a modern port like Esbjerg is capable of. As an EnergyMetropolis, the city combines green energy, technical expertise, and maritime craftsmanship in a modern story of sustainability and innovation.

“We have a truly fantastic maritime event, where Esbjerg can also shine. That’s why we’ve ensured a strong presence of local actors, who will help send a clear message: Esbjerg is not only a host city – it’s a growth city. A city that uses the event as a springboard for promoting education and business, while showing an Esbjerg where the maritime heritage is past, present, and future,” concludes Kirsten Bisgaard Kirchner.

A Sea of Experiences

At Maritime Square, you’ll meet a rich and varied selection of maritime participants.

You can tie hitches (not knots – you’ll learn that quickly), win prizes in Fulton’s tombola, climb aboard a rescue craft from Marinehjemmeværnet, or learn more about technological safety at sea with Furuno.

MYRTHUE and the Wadden Sea National Park share fascinating knowledge about the Wadden Sea as a World Heritage site, while Climate from Esbjerg Municipality highlights how we care for the sea and climate in the future.

With Hjerting Kanelaug’s iconic boat in the sand – flanked by Esbjerg Marine Association and Ribe Wooden Ship Guild – there’s also room for the strong, local maritime communities.

Experience the following at Maritime Square:

• Danish Sail Training Association (DSTA)
  Learn how to tie knots and coil ropes, make linoleum prints, and hear how you can go sailing yourself – both in Denmark and abroad.
• Esbjerg Harbour
  Gain insight into the role of a modern harbour in the green transition and Esbjerg as an EnergyMetropolis.
• Esbjerg Marine Association
  Meet veterans from maritime Denmark and hear about the association’s work and community.
• Fredericia Maskinmesterskole
  Hear about the new training programme for ordinary ship assistants and gain insight into maritime career paths.
• Furuno
  See the latest technical equipment and learn how to navigate and create safety at sea.
• Hjerting Kanelaug
  See the iconic boat in the sand and hear about old seafaring traditions.
• Climate from Esbjerg Municipality
  Gain insight into how we are working with the green transition and climate initiatives.
• Marinehjemmeværnet Esbjerg
  Try rescue equipment and see what safety at sea means.
• Maritime Woodcraft
  Experience maritime craftsmanship and get a feel for traditions in wood.
• MYRTHUE / Mit Vadehav
  Learn more about the Wadden Sea as a World Heritage site and as a living, ever-changing coastal nature – conveyed through play and learning.
• Wadden Sea National Park
  Explore the unique nature of the Wadden Sea and take part in a competition to win a boat trip with the national park’s own vessel.
• Ribe Wooden Ship Guild
  Here you can see rope work and old maritime artefacts.
• Skoleskibsforeningen Danmark
  Be inspired by life on board the School Ship Danmark – and hear how you can join yourself.
• Schooner Fulton
  Come and hear about the ship Fulton and its work. You can try the tombola and win prizes.