NETHERLANDS: What's to come at Metstrade 2024

Anticipation is building for the 2024 Metstrade event in Amsterdam, 19th-21st November, where up to 50 exhibitors are expected to promote new products and systems in the well-established Marina & Yard Pavilion (MYP).

As in past years, the MYP will be the central hub for marina professionals travelling to the RAI Amsterdam exhibition halls from all around the world; will be the favoured location for dealer and agent meetings; and will buzz with networking opportunities including the Waterfront Drinks get-together on the Marina World stand.
Marina-specific focus continues in the Metstrade Theatre (Hall 13) where Mike Ward and Simon Goodhead of Marina Projects will head up a Marina World session discussing new and future considerations for marina design. Members of the ICOMIA team also take to the stage to present a preview of IWMC 2025, the ICOMIA World Marinas Conference to be held in Venice. The event will also be promoted by Marina World, as media partner, from the Marina World stand in the MYP.
Inspirational themes
There are many other special focuses around the show – some well-established and others new – with emphasis on the Metstrade 2024 themes of accessibility and inclusion, emerging technologies and sustainabililty.
The DAME Awards will be presented as normal during the Breakfast Briefing on the first day of the show and products from all nominees and winners will be prominently displayed in Hall 13 in the DAME Design Awards display. Proceeds from the competition entrance fees always go to a carefully selected charity and the 2024 choice of the advisory committee is SailWise, organiser of sailing camps for the disabled.
Terry Hutchinson, a highly experienced skipper and president of operations for New York Yacht Club American Magic, will deliver this year’s opening keynote during the Breakfast Briefing. Hutchinson is well known for his extraordinary achievements and leadership at international sailing level and he is set to inspire all who attend.
Superyachts and racing yachts
The Superyacht Forum (TSF), held 18th-19th November, is re-imagined for 2024 under RAI Amsterdam organisation and supported by headline partners AkzoNobel/Awlgrip, DNV, Lürssen and Neom/Sindalah. Over 600 leading professionals will ‘Think Ahead’ on three key issues – innovation, sustainability and professionalisation. The TSF will be more closely aligned with the Superyacht Pavilion and its three halls of global specialist manufacturers and suppliers.
In addition to a wealth of topics covered in sessions in the Metstrade Theatre, the Yacht Racing Forum will be held at Metstrade for the first time. The leading annual conference for the business of sailing and yacht racing, the event provides a platform for knowledge exchange, networking and discussing the latest trends and innovations in the world of yacht racing.
There is still time to exhibit in the MYP (contact the team via metstrade@rai.nl) and plenty more to discover at www.metstrade.com
When planning your visit, make Marina World (stand 05.711 in the MYP) a port of call.