Sneekweek plates: a Delft Blue tradition since 1949
From 1 to 6 August, the Sneekermeer will once again be the setting for Sneekweek. The event officially opens on Friday evening, 31 July, with the traditional fleet parade in the centre of Sneek. This is followed by six days of sailing races with hundreds of participants.
The annual event also has a long-standing ceramic tradition. Since 1949, we have produced a special Delft Blue commemorative plate for the organisers. For Sneekweek 2026, our ceramic painters hand-painted approximately 70 large plates, which are presented to participants as prizes, among other purposes.
From Hardzeildag to Sneekweek
The first Sneekweek took place in 1934, but the history of sailing races in Sneek goes back much further. The first Hardzeildag sailing competition was held as early as 1814.
In 1934, several series of races were brought together to form a single sailing week. A total of 177 sailors took part in that first edition. Since then, Sneekweek has grown into the largest inland sailing event in Europe, attracting around 800 participants.
During the week, several elements of Sneek's sailing tradition come together:
- Six days of racing on the Sneekermeer
- Around thirty different racing classes
- The traditional Hardzeildag on Wednesday
- Activities on and around the Starteiland
- The fleet parade marking the opening of the event
The 89th edition will take place in 2026. While the races on the water form the heart of Sneekweek, the city of Sneek also plays an important part in the event throughout the week.
A new plate for every edition
Production of the Sneekweek plates began at Plateelbakkerij Schoonhoven and is now continued within our company under the name Schoonhoven Keramiek.
For each edition, the organisers select a different design. The subjects are connected to sailing, Sneek or the history of the city. The 2025 plate, for example, commemorated the liberation of Sneek in 1945.
The Delft Blue decoration provides the distinctive foundation, while the illustration gives each edition its own identity. This also allows historical events from the city to be featured on a plate presented during a sailing event.
Approximately 70 plates painted by hand
Once the design has been finalised, work begins in our own workshop. Our ceramic painters apply the design by hand to approximately 70 large plates.
The decoration is carefully built up, with close attention paid to the smaller details of the illustration. The plates are then glazed and fired. During firing, the Delft Blue painting develops its final colour and the glaze forms a protective layer over the decoration.
Because every plate is painted by hand, small differences between individual pieces are inevitable. The design remains the same, but brushstrokes and details may vary slightly from one plate to another. This is part of the character of hand-painted pottery.
After firing, the plates are ready for Sneekweek, where they are presented to participants as prizes, among other uses.
Commemorative plates for special occasions
The Sneekweek plates are one example of the Delft Blue commemorative plates we create in our workshop. Similar plates are also made for anniversaries, commemorations, associations, companies and other special occasions.
Depending on the occasion, a plate can feature a custom illustration, text, a year or a combination of these elements. In this way, an event or memorable moment can be captured in ceramics and remain recognisable for many years to come.
A wall featuring every edition
What has happened to the Sneekweek plates over the years can be seen clearly in the organisers' clubhouse.
There, the complete collection of plates from every edition is displayed together on a single wall.
Over the years, it has grown into an impressive wall of Delft Blue plates, showing the different designs from Sneekweek's history side by side. Alongside sailing-related subjects, the collection also includes images referring to Sneek and important events from the city's past.
After Sneekweek 2026, the latest plate can be added to the wall. Together, the plates show how a tradition that began in 1949 has developed over the decades.
