GAASTRA and Sneekweek announce their partnership for the 89th Sneekweek. A partnership between two institutions with roots in the Frisian water sports city of Sneek, which have stood for sailing, maritime culture and community for generations.
The collaboration also marks the start of a special anniversary year. In 2027, Sneekweek will celebrate its 90th anniversary, while GAASTRA looks back on 130 years of company history. Both have in common not only their origins in Sneek, but also their role as important ambassadors of a maritime culture that extends far beyond the Dutch borders.
GAASTRA was founded in 1897 by sailmaker Douwe Gaastra in Sneek. What started as a traditional sail maker grew into an internationally known water sports and lifestyle brand. To this day, the brand stands for authenticity, craftsmanship and a passion for life on the water.
Today, GAASTRA Sportswear’s head office is located in Hoppegarten near Berlin. Under Clinton’s leadership, the brand is being strategically further developed and repositioned there. The aim is to re-establish GAASTRA as a modern, international lifestyle brand with an authentic maritime DNA. The combination of sailing, functionality and contemporary design must be made experienceable for a new generation. The collaboration with Sneekweek is much more than classic sponsorship. It symbolizes the return to the origins of the brand and at the same time the development of its future.
“The connection between GAASTRA and the Sneekweek is very special. Both institutes were founded in Sneek and share the same values: passion for sailing, community, tradition and a look at the future. The fact that we are working with the Sneekweek on the way to our 130th anniversary, which will celebrate its 90th anniversary next year, makes this partnership extra meaningful for us,” says Peter Erlach, head of marketing at GAASTRA.
The Sneek Week has been one of the most important water sports events in Europe for decades. From July 31 to August 6, 2026, the city of Sneek will be completely dedicated to sailing. During the day, spectacular regattas on the Sneekermeer provide sporting highlights. In the evening and at night, the city center turns into a lively festival site with sporting and cultural activities. The unique combination of top sport, tradition and community attracts more than 300,000 participants and visitors from home and abroad every year. The organizers of the Sneekweek also see the collaboration as a connection that goes further than a classic sponsorship partnership.
“GAASTRA is part of the maritime history of our city. The brand was founded here and has stood for sailing for generations. That is why we are excited to build a bridge between tradition and the future together. The partnership strengthens our communities and creates real added value for the many people who make the Sneekweek special year after year,” explains the Sneekweek Foundation.
Within the collaboration, Sneekweek is seen as an active partner, platform and part of the GAASTRA brand world. At the same time, the aim is to connect the communities of both parties more closely and create joint added value. One of the first joint projects is a limited Sneekweek #89 x GAASTRA polo shirt edition, limited to only 300 copies. The special edition combines the identities of both brands and makes their shared origins visible.
The activation is supplemented with joint social media campaigns, content productions during the event, competitions for the community and editorial collaborations. In addition, various means of communication are used via digital and traditional channels. The focus is not only on brand visibility, but also on promoting the culture that has characterized both partners for decades: the passion for sailing, life on the water and the community that arises from it.
With this partnership, GAASTRA and the Sneekweek open a new chapter in their joint history. They connect past and future, tradition and modernity, and sport and lifestyle. All this based on the belief that sailing is much more than a competition: it is part of a culture that connects people.
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