on 31 Jan 2023
Boot Düsseldorf 2023 saw a decline in visitor numbers, but no loss in enthusiasm
After a three-year hiatus, Boot Düsseldorf was back on at the enormous Messe Düsseldorf show grounds in western Germany, running from January 21 to 29. Cold, damp weather did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm for the return of one of Europe’s biggest boat shows, which has attendees from all over northern Europe. Show organisers reported nearly 237,000 visitors attended the 2023 Boot Düsseldorf, down from over 250,000 attendees for the 2020 show. The show was cancelled due to Covid restrictions in 2021 and 2022.
The show was unable to restart in 2021, in line with the summertime Mediterranean shows, such as Cannes and Monaco, which could restart earlier thanks to lower infection rates during the warmer weather. As a result, there may have been fewer world premieres at this year’s Boot than there might otherwise have been.
Visitors still flocked into the halls and kept yacht salespeople busy with a steady stream of tours through some of the latest models.
Princess Yachts was showcasing its new S72, while Prestige, a brand of the Beneteau Group, had its M48 catamaran (hull #1) on display. Sanlorenzo had the largest yacht at the show, with hull #1 of the new SD90, which first premiered at the Cannes show in 2022. Pearl Yachts had their award-winning Pearl 72 on hand and Ferretti Group had a huge display, including the new Ferretti Yachts 580.
Read: Boot Düsseldorf opens and yachts on display
While Boot’s visitor numbers may be down, the local enthusiasm for the event ensures it has a bright future. The show receives a large share of visitors from The Netherlands and across Northern Germany, where maritime traditions run strong.
The show also offers a huge range of marine experiences beyond yachting, including Scuba diving, surfing, the latest toys, inflatables, submersibles and more.
This year’s show also had a strong focus on marine and ocean conservation, with a new Blue Innovation Dock letting exhibitors showcase their latest in clean tech for the boating industry. The trend towards electrification of the boating business was readily apparent, with brands such as Candela and X-shore on display, along with Delphia, the new all-electric brand from Beneteau.
That said, those boaters into high-powered, high speed thrills were not disappointed, with powerful boats from Malibu, Invictus and Frauscher on the stands. The great advantage of Boot Dusseldorf over in-water shows is that hull shapes can be examined in detail.
The next Boot Düsseldorf starts January 20, 2024.