The city of Amsterdam has announced that it will limit the number of sea cruises that moor at the Passengers Terminal Amsterdam (PTA) from 190 to a maximum of 100 per year from 2026 onwards.
In a statement, the city council also said that the PTA will immediately return to one berth and cruise ships will be required to use shore power by 2027.
Furthermore, the city is seeking a definitive departure of the PTA from its current location on Veemkade in 2035.
‘The city council wants a liveable, clean and sustainable city. Sea cruise is a polluting form of tourism and contributes to crowds and emissions in the city,’ said Alderman Hester van Buren (Port).
‘By limiting sea cruises, requiring shore power and aiming for the cruise terminal (PTA) to move from its current location in 2035, the council is responsibly implementing the council's proposal to stop sea cruises. With these balanced steps, the council tries to meet what is reasonable and acceptable to all parties, within the agreements already made in the context of the North Sea Canal Area (NZKG) and Sprong over the IJ.’
The city council says discussions held with partners show that Rotterdam ‘can take over 40 sea cruises that will no longer be allowed to dock in Amsterdam starting 2026.’ However, it acknowledged that this would also have a negative financial impact on the Dutch capital.
‘The restriction will reduce spending by sea cruise passengers and shipping companies in the city. Mainly due to less spending by tourists in, for example, museums, catering, shops and excursions, but also due to less fuel consumption,’ the city council said. ‘For the city this means less income because less tourist tax is collected, and because of a lower dividend payment as a shareholder of the Port Authority.’
Moreover, the city council announced that a financial and legal feasibility study will be carried out into a possible relocation of the PTA to the Coenhaven, northwest of the city centre.
‘Based on this feasibility study, the council will decide in consultation with the government, the Port Authority and the province of North Holland whether relocation is feasible by 2035,’ the city council said.
