The origins of boot Düsseldorf
Opening the press conference in 1969 are (LtoR): Horst Schlichting, Dieter Ebert, Alexander Basting and Kurt Schoop.
(Dieter Ebert was md of NOWEA (former name of Messe Düsseldorf), and Alexander represented the German Motor Yachting Association)
The first boot Düsseldorf opens its gates 50 years ago this week. In the German North Rhine-Westphalia region, just 116 exhibitors were onboard in the exhibition halls on Fischerstraße. But right from the start the people in Düsseldorf were enthusiastic about “their” boat show.
Two passionate water sports enthusiasts created the show. The journalist Horst Schlichting and fair boss Kurt Schoop developed the idea and 33,000 people agreed it was a great one.
The show quickly garnered attention and celebrity visitors appeared. King Carl Gustav and Queen Silvia, Prince Rainier and his son Albert, King Harald of Norway, Prince Edward of Great Britain, Greek Minister of Culture, actress Melina Mercouri and surf stars such as Robbie Naish and Björn Dunkerbeck have visited.
Now there are rather more exhibitors spread across the 17 exhibition halls. Advance ticket sales for boot Düsseldorf are open, with special discounts for club members.
