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Originally scheduled for March 11-15, 2026, the Boot Holland boat show will not be held. While METS is attracting record numbers of visitors (admittedly in a different market), the organizers have confirmed the cancellation, for the second year running, due to a lack of commitment from exhibitors. A situation that calls into question the viability of indoor shows in a changing sector.
Low exhibitor turnout
In a terse press release, the organizers point out that exhibitor participation was insufficient to guarantee the level of quality expected by visitors. No figures are given, but this is in stark contrast to previous editions, which attracted up to 250 exhibitors.
Boot Holland has long been regarded as the season-opening event for Dutch boaters, offering an indoor alternative in the depths of winter. But the rise of HISWA In-Water, a more geographically central outdoor show, has gradually changed the flow of visitors and exhibitors.
A model at the end of its cycle?
Boot Holland's decline reflects both a lack of interest in covered shows and a reordering of the Dutch nautical agenda. Leeuwarden's location, far from densely populated areas and export markets such as Germany, seems to be a limiting factor.
Uncertainty about the future of the event
No mention was made of any rescheduling or change of format. The consecutive cancellations cast doubt on the show's future. For exhibitors and visitors alike, the focus is now shifting to open-air events and customer experience-oriented trade shows.
The cancellation of Boot Holland 2026 may well signal the end of a cycle for interior shows in the Netherlands. The declining attractiveness of the event for exhibitors raises questions about the ability to renew the format. It remains to be seen whether a relaunch is possible, or whether the event is definitively relegated to the archives of the nautical calendar.
