Skift Take
The Dutch capital’s cruise ship restrictions and the eventual relocation of its main terminal are part of an aggressive effort to combat overtourism.
Dawit Habtemariam
The Amsterdam city government said on Wednesday it plans to cut the number of ships that can call at its main port terminals over the coming years.
From 2026, the number of ocean cruise ships that can call at the Amsterdam Passenger Terminal will be reduced from the current 190 to 100.
Within 10 years, cruise ships will no longer be able to dock at the main terminal.
By 2035, the main cruise ship terminal is expected to be located outside the city.
By 2027, all cruise ships will be required to use shore power, meaning ships in port will have to get power from shore, reducing the use of onboard diesel engines, which contribute to carbon emissions.
“By limiting ocean cruises, mandating shore power, and aiming to relocate the cruise terminal from its current location by 2035, the City Council is acting responsibly with its proposal to end ocean cruises,” said City Council Member Hester Van Buren.
In addition to pollution, the cruise industry is known to contribute to overcrowding: In Venice, the government is limiting the number of cruise ships in the industrial port and building a smaller terminal outside the city center, said Simone Venturini, the city’s deputy mayor for tourism.
The cruise ship capacity limits are the latest policy Amsterdam has implemented to combat overtourism: In April, the city banned the construction of new hotels, and earlier this year launched a new campaign to stop unwanted partygoers from visiting the city’s entertainment district.
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