Amsterdam looks beyond relocation, considers full ocean cruise shutdown

AMSTERDAM--City officials said in late January that they are examining the possibility of ending sea cruise visits by 2035, after years of weighing whether to move the passenger terminal out of the city center. Relocation is now viewed as financially unrealistic, with costs estimated at about €85 million, and a recent feasibility study flagging both sustainability concerns and major financial uncertainties. Deputy Mayor Hester van Buren said the city wants to prioritize “sustainability and livability,” and will further assess the cruise phase-out option in the months ahead.

The cruise industry group CLIA acknowledged it is aware of the discussion, but said cruise operations are continuing as scheduled, while emphasizing ongoing talks with the city and port.

The feasibility work identified the Westerhoofd area as the only viable alternative location for a new terminal, roughly four miles from the current site, near where some river vessels already dock. The city noted that meeting a 2035 relocation deadline would require starting work soon, though the study did not provide a definitive picture of overall costs and benefits because that depends partly on how the existing terminal property would be used.

Amsterdam also highlighted the financial tradeoffs, estimating that losing ocean cruise activity could reduce tax revenue by roughly €46 million over 30 years. At the same time, officials said they intend to examine possible downsides of a ban, including job losses, as they refine the proposal for the next municipal administration to consider after elections in March.

The debate is unfolding as other European destinations have tightened cruise access. Barcelona shifted cruise docking farther from its busiest core, while Venice barred large cruise ships from the lagoon in 2021, leading itineraries to substitute nearby ports such as Trieste, Marghera, and Chioggia.

Cruise operators are watching closely. Virgin Voyages said Amsterdam is a strong brand fit and that limiting access would be disappointing, while still recognizing cities regularly reassess tourism’s place in their long-term plans. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings noted examples of cooperation with Amsterdam, including shore power connections made available last year, and said it supports continued dialogue as policy discussions develop. Some lines already bypass the city center by using IJmuiden, about 30 minutes away by car, and Norwegian Cruise Line has a call there scheduled this year.

Amsterdam has also been tightening other tourism levers. A cap of 100 ocean cruise calls is set to take effect this year, alongside measures aimed at reducing pressure from aviation growth, hotel expansion, and river cruising. River cruise calls are set to be cut by 10% starting this year as the city moves toward an annual cap of 1,150. Hotel growth has also been constrained, with a 2024 policy allowing a new hotel only if another closes, following a 2021 cap of 20 million hotel nights per year.

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