Metstrade 2025: What to expect this year
Metstrade 2025 returns to RAI Amsterdam from 18 to 20 November 2025 — and it’s bigger than ever. Organisers of Metstrade, the world’s largest marine equipment trade show, say they expect it to be the largest edition of the show ever held, with expanded halls, over 1,600 exhibitors and a wider content programme.
In 2024, the show received 31,824 visits from 19,779 unique visitors.
Metstrade 2025 will see the first full use of the RAI Amsterdam complex, with halls arranged in a continuous loop. The event will feature 30 country pavilions representing 20 nations, with Estonia participating with its own pavilion for the first time. A new zone in Hall 11 will highlight construction materials, including sustainable composites, coatings, bonding technologies and 3D printing.
The Superyacht Zone has been enlarged and now extends across Halls 8, 9 and 10. It will include an educational programme, a refit sector area, a Captains’ Club and the new Harbour 8 space, which will host the Boat Builder Awards. Other areas include the Marina & Yard section, the Foiling Technology Zone and two startup areas, one for recreational boating and one for superyachts.
There’s also going to be a new USA stage — created in partnership with NMMA, IBEX and Soundings Trade Only — to provide perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing transatlantic stakeholders.
The Young Professionals Club will return with an expanded programme, and on 20 November, the minimum age for entry will be lowered to 16 with a student-focused schedule. Hall 13 will host nominees for both the Boat Builder Awards and the DAME Design Awards, as well as the Next Gen Zone for companies developing environmentally focused technologies.
Patricia Becker, exhibition manager at Metstrade, says: “This is the most exciting Metstrade to date. The key for visitors this year is to experience the full event – from meeting fellow professionals, learning from one another, experiencing new and interesting solutions, engaging with the production content programme and side events and being inspired to innovate.”
Stage and content programme
Metstrade has confirmed the stage and content programme for its 2025 edition. The agenda spans five dedicated stages, covering issues such as costs, supply chain pressures, compliance, consumer behaviour and wider economic challenges. Cheryl Brown, managing director of Le Boat, will deliver the opening keynote, sharing her industry experience and insights before engaging with the Young Professionals Club.
The schedule includes daily sessions on the Metstrade stage with input from industry associations, alongside sustainability workshops from the Marine Impact Lab and a startup competition hosted by Yachting Ventures.
Other highlights include the North America stage, focused on US and Canadian market developments and the Superyacht stage, exploring design, refit and technology. The Young Professionals Club will offer sessions on leadership and workplace culture, while the Foiling stage will spotlight design, adoption and sustainability in this growing field. Informal networking opportunities, new hospitality spaces and additional events such as the Women in Marine Industry International programme will also feature.
2025 DAME Design Awards
The prestigious DAME Design Awards return to Metstrade 2025 for their 34th year, recognising excellence in leisure marine equipment design.
Products are to be assessed on criteria such as functionality, form, environmental impact, innovation and efficiency, with both new developments and incremental improvements eligible.
Judging is being conducted in two stages, beginning with virtual assessments before final selections are made in Amsterdam. Nominated products will be presented in a dedicated showcase at the show, with awards given for individual categories, an overall winner and a discretionary Environmental Design Award.
Nominated products will be displayed at the DAME Design Awards Showcase in Hall 13 at Metstrade. This area, located within the main exhibition, is visited by thousands of marine professionals during the three-day event. Over the past ten years, more than 500 products have been featured in this space.
The winners of the DAME Awards 2025 will be announced during Metstrade’s official opening on 18 November 2025. Entry fees from the 2025 awards will be donated to the Ocean Conservation Trust.
Women in Marine Industry International event
The Women in Marine Industry International breakfast and panel returns to Metstrade on 19 November 2025, with the theme “Navigating Today’s Global Market”. The session runs 8.30am to 10.30am CET, inclusive and free for all Metstrade attendees and exhibitors, and includes breakfast, a panel discussion and networking. All genders are welcome to attend.
The session is being co-hosted by British Marine, Marine Industry News, Soundings Trade Only and Metstrade.
This year’s panel will examine how the marine industry is coping with evolving consumer behaviour, accelerating innovation, supply chain pressures and geopolitical uncertainty. Speakers include Áine Denari (Navico/Brunswick), Andrea Tetto (Yamaha), Tanja Lutz (Seakeeper) and Sylvie Ernoult (Cannes Yachting Festival), moderated by Michele Goldsmith from Soundings Trade Only.
Metstrade Startups zone
For the first time, Yachting Ventures will also be showcasing two Startup Pavilions at Metstrade – with one focused on the leisure marine sector, and a second hosting superyacht startups, with solutions for yachts over 24 metres in length.
The selected companies span a wide range of marine-tech innovations: autonomous buoy systems, electric outboards, AI optimised design platforms, biofouling prevention, renewable propulsion, smart marine hardware and sustainable cleaning solutions.
The startups zone will again host a startup pitch competition, where five startups present to investors, industry partners and potential collaborators.
Marine Impact Lab
A new initiative called Marine Impact Lab is being launched to help marine-industry firms turn sustainability goals into tangible strategies.
The lab, developed by consultancies Marine Future and Foxall Munro, will debut on 17 November 2025 at Metstrade in Amsterdam and is limited to 100 participants. The one-day event brings together engineers, designers, sustainability leads, marketers and commercial decision-makers for hands-on workshops focused on real-world challenges.
Speakers confirmed for the product and design panel to date are: Will Hopes (BAR Technologies), Alessandro Stagni (Northern Lights Composites), Etienne Le Pen (Kairos) and Moritz Möker (Holy Technologies).
Two programme tracks will run: a “Product Track” addressing life cycle assessment, sustainable design and operational efficiency; and an “Organisation Track” covering carbon reporting, stakeholder engagement and governance.
Tickets for the Marine Impact Lab are priced at €150, covering a fully catered day of interactive workshops, expert speakers, resources, a networking lunch and a closing happy hour.
Superyacht Coating Conference
The Superyacht Coating Conference will return to RAI Amsterdam on 18–19 November 2025, running alongside Metstrade and The Superyacht Forum.
Organised by Metstrade in partnership with the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) and Superyacht Builders Association (SYBAss), the two-day B2B event will bring together industry leaders to discuss the latest legislation, tools and standardised procedures shaping the superyacht coatings sector.
Attendees at the two-day event – limited to about 250 senior participants – can expect deep dives into legislation, ISO standards, sustainability, inspection methods, innovations in preparation and application techniques, dispute resolution and coating quality assurance. Sessions aim to bridge the gap between coating manufacturers and broader superyacht sector stakeholders, encouraging collaboration on regulatory and technical challenges.
Expanded programme of side events
Metstrade will host an expanded programme of side events alongside its annual three-day exhibition at RAI Amsterdam.
Women in Nautica, on 19 November, will continue to promote diversity and technology-driven opportunities in the sector through networking and discussion sessions.
The Royal Netherlands Society of Marine Technicians (KNVTS) will host technical sessions on 19 November, focusing on innovation in shipbuilding and maritime technology. The programme includes expert-led panels and discussions designed to foster collaboration among professionals and young engineers.
The Superyacht Times Party will be held on 19 November at Hotel Arena in Amsterdam.
Bigger focus on sustainable products
Metstrade 2025 will feature a record number of exhibitors and products, with a strong focus on sustainability across all 13 halls of RAI Amsterdam. Dedicated zones such as the Foiling Technology Zone and Next Gen Zone are exploring new technologies designed to reduce environmental impact, including foiling, circular materials and alternative propulsion systems.
The Next Gen Zone will feature the Sustainable Innovation Hub, Royal 3D and the Next Generation Propulsion Showcase, presenting advances in areas such as 3D printing and zero-emission propulsion. The Superyacht Sustainability Route, developed with the Water Revolution Foundation, will guide visitors to verified sustainable solutions for larger vessels.
Alongside the exhibition, the Marine Impact Lab workshop on 17 November will bring together industry experts to discuss circular design, sustainable materials and practical steps toward a lower-impact marine sector.
US and Canada unite for the first time
The United States and Canada will share a joint pavilion for the first time at Metstrade 2025, forming a unified North American presence in Hall 12. The area will host 75 exhibitors, including seven new participants, alongside the North America Stage organised by NMMA, IBEX and Soundings Trade Only. Across three days, the stage will feature sessions on renewable materials, electrical standards, trade policy and consumer trends.
A networking reception on 19 November will bring together participants from across the US and Canadian marine sectors, supported by NMMA, BAR Marine by EDM and Wet Sounds.
On 18 November, a timely panel called “the 3Ts: Trade, Tariffs and Taxes Impacting the Global Marine Industry” will examine how shifting global policies affect the recreational marine sector.
The session features experts from NMMA, NMMA Canada, European Boating Industry, and ICOMIA, moderated by Soundings Trade Only’s Michele Goldsmith. Discussion topics on the agenda include competitiveness, trade policy changes, and supply chain strategies to help marine businesses adapt and grow.
Balearic Marine Cluster promotes collaboration
Balearic Marine Cluster will represent the Balearic yachting industry at Metstrade, accompanied by 16 companies from the region. The group will exhibit within the Refit Clusters area in Hall 8, where its stand has been expanded to 18sqm to reflect growing international interest in the islands’ refit and technical service sector. Participating firms include Astilleros de Mallorca, IPM Group, Ocibar–Port Adriano and others spanning engineering, propulsion and yacht maintenance.
The cluster will also attend the Superyacht Forum as part of its ongoing efforts to promote collaboration and global visibility for the Balearic marine industry.
Registration for Metstrade 2025
Metstrade will take place 18–20 November 2025 at RAI Amsterdam. Online registration for Metstrade is now open.
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