SAIL Amsterdam is the largest event in the Netherlands which is free to the public. In 2005 the event drew 1.8 million visitors. The idea behind SAIL Amsterdam originated during preparations for the celebration of Amsterdam's 700 years of existence in 1975. Every five years since for a week the city is drastically oriented towards the IJ river. Thus SAIL helped Amsterdam recover it’s lost relation towards the water and stimulated urban development along it’s shores.