Navigating between ambition, dreams, and adversity ..
This energetic documentary tells the thrilling adventure story of free spirit August Dirks and his “Ship of Fools,” the *Azart*.
For over thirty years, August sailed the globe performing absurdist theater. Throughout this time, he lived aboard this floating work of art, accompanied by a rotating crew. He had converted an old fishing lugger into a vessel for encountering other cultures, exchanging ideas, and—above all—having fun. As August himself puts it: ‘I wanted to rig up a ship of fools to sail around the world and sing the praises of folly.’
The ship didn’t look particularly seaworthy, and August wasn’t actually much of a sailor. It was more luck than skill that things always turned out well.
The crew followed the historic VOC east trade route—not to plunder and pillage this time, but to share and play. And—once docked in countless ports—to seek genuine connections with local residents.
Halfway through the journey, off the coast of Ecuador, fate intervened, and the ship set a course for its final, spectacular resting place.
An uplifting true story about the art of navigating between ambition, dreams, and adversity in the midst of an adventurous life.
And all of this with plenty of humor.
“A cheerful and inspiring documentary.” — *De Groene Amsterdammer*
“A ‘second-chance fossil,’ stranded out of love.” — *NRC*
“A boundless burst of creativity and energy.” — *Het Parool*
Runtime: 83 minutes | Genre: Documentary
Spoken languages: English, Dutch, French, Spanish
Subtitles: Dutch (English / Spanish on request)
Rating: All Ages
Background Information
The ship as a source of inspiration
Cultural exchange, inspiring people, and—above all—bringing joy: these have been key goals for the captain. As August himself puts it: “I wanted to rig up a ‘Ship of Fools’ to sail around the world and sing the praises of folly.” Captain August says: “To run a ‘fool’s ship’ for thirty years, you certainly can’t be a fool yourself. To reach your goal, you have to tack—that means sailing as close to the wind as possible in a constant zigzag motion. It’s like finding your own path amidst the difficulties.”
The ship’s name, *Azart*, carries multiple meanings: passion, throwing oneself into something without hesitation, taking risks, daring to gamble, fearlessly pursuing a goal, and so on. This motto fueled the resilience and repeated successes experienced over the years. Nothing seemed impossible, despite—or perhaps precisely because of—the setbacks.
Up until 2020, the ship visited countless ports, brightening them with its presence. Cultural exchange emerged naturally through interactions with local communities.
For over thirty years, the *Azart*—a true “Ship of Fools”—served as a traveling platform for actors and artists to showcase their talents in cities across the globe.
Wherever the ship docked, artists and creative spirits would clamber aboard. Some stayed briefly, while others sailed along for years. They experimented with music, theater, and film; they sewed magnificent costumes, painted, and built sets. Unconstrained by convention, they drew inspiration from one another and from the belief that anything was possible if you took a leap of faith with total conviction. Everyone contributed something unique. In this way, the ship became a dynamic sculpture and art object, finding a new, unique position within an ever-changing seascape time and again.
Azartplein—named after the ship in 1994—is located on Amsterdam’s KNSM Island; this is where the *Azart* used to be moored. A ferry crosses the IJ from Amsterdam-Noord, heading for Azartplein. The ferry landing stage is now situated exactly where the ship once docked.
Tram line 1 runs across the city from the west, with Azartplein as its terminus. In May 2026, a weather vane featuring the ship’s silhouette was installed on the Wladiwostok building to ensure the connection to the square endures forever.
The ship has since run aground in Manta, Ecuador, where its remarkable story continues to unfold. It now serves as a cultural and social center—no longer sailing, but situated on dry land. A grandstand and a boulevard have been built around it, and the local theater group *Humor y Vida* organizes performances and guided tours there. The ship continues to inspire artistic creativity, just as initiator August Dirks had envisioned. You can find more information about the ship at www.azart.org.
Captain August: “To be able to run a Fool’s Barge for thirty years, you can’t be a fool at all. To achieve your goal you have to tack – that is to sail as high as possible against the wind and that in a permanent zig-zag movement. That is something like Finding Your Own Way Amidst the Difficulties.”
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