RAI Amsterdam has stopped organising the HISWA Amsterdam Boat Show. The reason for this decision is the changing market and the demand from exhibitors for one strong water sports event in the Netherlands. The 65th edition and thus the last HISWA Amsterdam Boat Show took place in March 2020. With pain in its heart, RAI Amsterdam says goodbye to this iconic event for water sports.
The decision to discontinue the HISWA stems from the greatly changed water sports world. Boat ownership is declining, a trend expected to continue in the coming years. In recent years, this has led to changes in the participating parties at the exhibition and declining visitor numbers. Another reason is the question of the participants. Almost 50% of the exhibitors took part in both the HISWA Amsterdam Boat Show at the RAI and the HISWA te Water in Lelystad. Many exhibitors had indicated that this was too big a marketing investment.
With the end of HISWA Amsterdam Boat Show, space is offered to HISWA in WATER in Lelystad, organised by HMM Exhibitions. Brand owner of the trade fairs Vereniging HISWA-RECRON supports this decision in the interest of the water sports industry.
As RAI Amsterdam, we would like to thank all water sports companies and water sports enthusiasts who visited the fair. Thanks to them, the HISWA Amsterdam Boat Show was the start of the water sports season in all those years.
