The Düsseldorf International Boat Show, more commonly known as boot Düsseldorf or just boot is one of the world's premier boat shows. With some 1,600 exhibitors from over 50 countries, boot Düsseldorf is considered a benchmark for the international boat and water sports industry. Unparalleled at other major boat shows, large vessels up to 180 grt can be looked on in their entirety, as the exhibition is a complete indoor event. Boot Düsseldorf is held annually at MesseDüsseldorf, Germany, for the duration of a week in the end of January.
History
The 1st Düsseldorf Boat Show was opened on 27 November 1969. It started with 116 exhibitors from eight countries, an exhibition space of 11,000 square metres and 34,000 visitors. The following year 183 exhibitors presented yachts and water sports equipment on 21,000 sqm to 40,000 visitors. In January 1972, the boot was first held within the new and current Messe premises in Düsseldorf-Stockum and functioned as a forum for preparations of the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. In 1976, Canada became the first partner country of the Düsseldorf Boat Show. In 1979 a glazed 8 x 4 x 4 meter saturation diving tower by Preussag AG was presented at boot Düsseldorf. The 1981 show was themed "marine science", with underwater photography showcased by Swiss oceanographer Jacques Piccard. Visitor numbers peaked in 1992 with just over 400,000 and have gone down since, while the number of exhibitors has overall stayed constant. Also during the early 1990s, super yachts were introduced in Düsseldorf. The LisbonExpo '98 became partner of the boot in 1998, with the common theme "The Oceans, a Heritage for the Future" and presentations by French environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau. The European Yacht of the Year Award was initiated by Yacht magazine in 2001 and since voted by eleven leading European sailing magazines and presented at boot Düsseldorf. Exhibition floor area reached a record 220,000 square metres at the show's 40th anniversary in 2008. The boot 2010 set records with over 150 premieres, among others for alternative fuel sailing and motor yachts.
Year
Exhibitors
Exhibitors
Exhibitors
Visitors
Visitors
2002
1,055
638
1,693
333,641
12%
2003
1,012
640
1,652
307,054
13%
2004
1,050
627
1,677
308,891
14%
2005
1,034
641
1,675
281,206
17%
2006
1,066
648
1,654
291,733
17%
2007
988
653
1,641
261,744
16%
2008
970
731
1,701
267,379
16%
2009
923
693
1,616
238,000
18%
2010
900
677
1,577
240,200
19%
2011
897
685
1,582
252,441
16%
2012
1,656
246,700
20%
The Düsseldorf International Boat Show is tailored as a professional trade fair, showcasing state of the art developments in the yacht and entire water sports industry. Next to sailing and motor yachts, diving is one of the most visited sections of the exhibition. The fact, it is located inland and at the heart of the European megalopolis, distinguishes it from e.g. the Salone Nautico Internazionale at Genoa, Italy, which is of a comparable size but more of a boat show in the proper sense. As a long-time partner of Kiel Week and an industry knowledge base, boot and boot.de is also the largest German internet portal for water sports.
The European Yacht of the Year Award was initiated by Yacht magazine of Germany at boot in 2001 and has since been voted in co-operation with national magazines Badnyt Denmark, Batnytt Sweden, Fare Vela Italy, Seilas Norway, Swissboat Yachting Switzerland, Voile Magazine France, Waterkampioen the Netherlands, Yacht Revue Austria, Yachting World England and Yate Spain.
European Powerboat of the Year
The European Powerboat of the Year Award was initiated by BOOTE magazine of Germany at boot in 2005 and has since been voted in co-operation with national magazines Barche a Motore Italy, Neptune France, Marina CH Switzerland, Yachtrevue Austria, Batliv Norway, and Vene Finland.
