Zeeliederenfestival Sea Shanty Festival

13 14 August 2005. The Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum Amsterdams Maritime Museum - is once again host to this 2-day celebration of traditional sea-faring songs. Choirs come from all over the world to participate in this fun music event.

Sea shanties or chanteys as they are called here, were the work songs of the sea, providing a rhythm for the hard grind of hauling in the sails, pulling up the anchor and swabbing down the decks. Sung mainly in English, the stirring lyrics speak of farewells, adventure, women and the sailors longing for home. The surroundings of the 300-year-old former Dutch navy arsenal provide a fitting backdrop and the choirs perform in the museums courtyard and along the wooden pier on the harbour-front. A special feature of the festival is the performance of shanties sung aboard an old steamship, the Christiaan Brunings, which makes a short voyage for the occasion. Performances are planned to go on all day on both Sat & Sun.