The German sailing event Kieler Woche (Kiel Week) starts next Friday. Traditionally, the German Navy presents itself, along with many international navies, during the week.
From 21 to 30 June, the German Navy will welcome more than 40 ships and boats from 16 nations to the 130th Kiel Week. Over 4,000 international marines will be guests at the Kiel-Wik naval base and in the city of Kiel.
The guests include the US command ship “USS Mount Whitney”, the Colombian Navy’s sail training ship “Gloria” and other ships and boats from the NATO countries Belgium, Finland, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and the USA.
This year’s flagship is the “Gorch Fock”, which has just returned to its home port from a training voyage and will also lead the windjammer parade on Saturday 29 June. The German Navy’s sail training ship can be viewed during the Open Ship on 22 June 2024. Many of the foreign ships and boats can also be viewed on the Open Ship days on 22 and 23 June 2024 from 11 a.m. until the last admission at 4 p.m.
Navy takes centre stage at Kiel Week
“In addition to the many units from a wide variety of nations, I would also like to highlight our naval cutter regatta, which will sail towards the city centre and thus move further into the focus of visitors along the Kiel Line. This project was jointly promoted by the City of Kiel and the German Navy and will be realised for the first time this year. This will also give the ‘Nucleus of Kiel Week’ a prominent place in Kiel Week 2024,” said frigate captain Jan Dobberstein, commander of the Kiel-Wik naval base.
Overall, it will be international, colourful and sporty at the Kiel naval base. “It’s a great sight every year when many of our and our friendly navies’ sailors shape the image of Kiel Week and I hope that they experience Kiel at its best and remember it – there can be no better advertisement for the city of Kiel and the German Navy,” continued the commander of the naval base.
Other atmospheric highlights include the traditional wreath-laying ceremony for international ship crews at the Laboe Naval Memorial on 24 June 2024, the concert by the Kiel Naval Music Corps at the Kiel-Wik naval base on 25 June 2024 and the international “Navy Night” dance evening on Saturday, 22 June 2024, at the Grenke dance school.
