Ostend at Anchor 2025: steering towards a sustainable sea

From Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 May 2025, Oostende voor Anker (Ostend at Anchor), the annual maritime festival that attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the port city, took place in the city of Ostend. In a setting of majestic sailing ships, maritime heritage and crafts, a lot of attention was paid to the future of our blue economy thanks to the Blue Innovation Village.

Despite the somewhat worse weather compared to last year, the event succeeded in attracting 175,000 visitors to the seaside resort. In this way, Oostende voor Anker once again proved its unique strength: combining historical sailing heritage with a look ahead to the sustainable blue economy.

During this edition, the Blue Innovation Village grew into a vibrant knowledge and meeting centre where innovation, sustainability and education came together. This year's thematic approach was coördinated by the Institute of Research on the Wonders of the Sea (IOBZ), which mapped out the content trajectory for the renewed Innovation Village with great care and vision.

Thanks to their strong strategy - with carefully composed panel discussions, clear public information and contributions from numerous experts - the IOBZ managed to develop the Innovation Village into an inspiring place where visitors came into contact with the blue economy of tomorrow in an accessible way.

Below we would like to highlight some highlights of the Blue Innovation Village 2025:

• School visits

More than 400 secondary school students visited the Blue Innovation Village, where they explored the world of the blue economy through interactive demos, hands-on workshops, and conversations with industry professionals. They were introduced to key topics like offshore wind energy, seaweed as a sustainable resource, smart ports, and maritime technology. The goal? To spark their interest in STEM fields and help them discover the role they could play in shaping the future of our oceans.

• Talks

During the event, several lectures and panel discussions took place on topics related to the sea. Companies, government representatives, and scientists shared their insights and engaged in dialogue with the audience. Several Blue Cluster colleagues from participated, diving deeper into themes such as renewable energy, sustainable seafood, and maritime safety. The sessions also provided an opportunity to showcase some of our key projects.

• Exhibitors

More than 20 companies, research institutions, and government agencies showcased their work at the Blue Innovation Village. At their stands, they presented cutting-edge projects, sustainable solutions, and educational initiatives. Visitors had the chance to experience VR simulations, explore innovative technologies, and gain insight into the world of marine research.

This edition of Oostende voor Anker once again proved that maritime heritage and forward-looking innovation can go hand in hand. The Blue Innovation Village played a key role, serving as a powerful driver to engage both young and old in the sustainable future of our seas.

Want to join us (again) next year? The next edition of Oostende voor Anker will take place from Thursday 28 May to Sunday 31 May 2026. Be sure to mark your calendar!