Visitors to Sail Harlingen can count on extra-long trains between Leeuwarden and Harlingen Haven this summer. Arriva is scaling up its capacity to bring thousands of travellers to the event sustainably and comfortably. As in previous editions, Arriva is the mobility partner of the Tall Ships Races Harlingen. As part of the partnership, Arriva unveiled the Tall Ships Express train at Leeuwarden station on Tuesday 31 March.

The train, entirely dedicated to the Tall Ships Races, was festively christened at Leeuwarden station on Tuesday 31 March by deputy Matthijs de Vries and chairman of the Harlingen Sail Foundation Sjaak Smeding. Travellers are taken into the atmosphere of the maritime event organised in Harlingen from 3 to 6 July from the moment they board.

Gedeputeerde Matthijs de Vries stresses the importance of good accessibility. ‘For Fryslân, good accessibility is essential, especially for events of this scale. With the train, sustainable travel to Harlingen becomes self-evident for thousands of visitors. In this way, we not only strengthen the accessibility of the North, but also show how public transport and major events go hand in hand.’

Arriva also underlines the role of public transport at major events. Gerrit de Groot, regional director Arriva Noord: ‘As a carrier, we are at the heart of society. With the Tall Ships Express, we show how public transport and major events can reinforce each other. We like to bring travellers to Sail Harlingen comfortably and sustainably with our trains. The event already literally starts on our train.’

Sjaak Smeding, chairman of Harlingen Sail Foundation, points to the broad cooperation.
‘Sail Harlingen is all about meeting, cooperation and passing on maritime traditions to new generations. It is extra special that we can already show this together with Arriva on the train. In addition, Arriva will take our trainees to Aarhus in Denmark by bus on 27 June and will be ready with extra long trains and shuttle buses during the event.”

Tall Ships Races 2026 Harlingen
Harlingen is one of the host ports of the 70th edition of the Tall Ships Races. The start is on 27 June in Aarhus, Denmark, after which Harlingen is the finishing point of the first leg on 3 July. About 50 of the world's largest sailing ships are taking part. Hundreds of young people aged between 15 and 25 will sail along as trainee sailors. From 3 to 6 July, the ships form the backdrop of the largest four-day event in the northern Netherlands, with numerous activities for visitors.