Allt för sjöns history
Allt för sjön’s maiden voyage was in 1935 under the name Stockholm International Boat Exhibition. The idea of a boat exhibition in Stockholm started earlier, with the world’s first boat show.
In May 1903, an automobile and motorboat exhibition was held in Gamla Slottsparken, near the current Stadion in Stockholm. Boats, accessories, and engines were exhibited, much like at Allt för sjön today. This was the world’s first boat show.
In 1905, Clarence von Rosen organized an automobile and motorboat exhibition on Djurgården, and the tradition began to take shape. A reporter from the French newspaper L’Auto praised the exhibition and concluded the report with: “Sweden is far from being a wild country.”
For Allt för sjön, the formation of the Swedish Shipbuilders’ Association (Svenska Varvsföreningen, SVF) and the Boat and Motor Suppliers Association (Båt- och Motorleverantörernas Förening, BMF) in the 1930s was of great significance.
They solidified the boat show in Stockholm, later named Allt för sjön, by being the driving business entities behind it. Later on, BMF sought collaboration with and involvement from the Royal Motor Yacht Club (Kungliga Motorbåt Klubben, KMK) and the Royal Swedish Yacht Club (Kungliga Svenska Segel Sällskapet, KSSS).
After World War II, Allt för sjön resumed. A small exhibition suddenly became a major industry fair. In 1946, 8,000 people attended Allt för sjön. It was written then that: “The fair dazzled more than it showed of accomplished news.” This sentiment is still sometimes heard at Allt för sjön today.
In 1949, Allt för sjön moved to St. Eriks-Mässan, which is now known as Stockholmsmässan. Allt för sjön assumed its current geographical location and form after March 20, 1971, when the construction of Stockholmsmässan was completed.