Amsterdam moves cruise terminal from city center. From 2026, the city will halve the berths for cruise ships.
The city of Amsterdam plans to move the passenger terminal for cruise ships out of the city center in 2035. This was reported by the ‘SunIn addition, the number of ships allowed to dock at the terminal will be halved from 2026. The city council confirmed the decision on Tuesday during a meeting to combat overtourism and improve the quality of life of residents.
The measures also include halving the number of river cruises in the city, as the ‘Zon’ further reports. The project is based on a proposal by the social democratic party D66, which was approved by the city council last year and bans cruise ships from the city centre.
Politician compares cruise tourists to ‘plague of locusts’
“Pollution from cruise ships does not fit in with Amsterdam’s sustainable goals,” said Ilana Rooderkerk of the D66 party last year. She compared cruise tourists to a ‘plague of locusts’ that suddenly descended on the city BBC reported.
The Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) disagrees with the interpretation that this is a ban. “Amsterdam remains a popular cruise destination,” CLIA said, according to the Sun. The economic benefit to the city is around 105 million euros per year.
Cruise ship holidays: more and more Millennials and Gen Z holidaymakers
While a few years ago this type of holiday was mainly popular among retirees, today more and more people dream of it Millennials and Gen-Z vacationers on a cruise ship vacation.
Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Harry Sommer told CNBC that Millennials and Generation Z in particular are currently his cruise line’s fastest growing customer group. “They come, they enjoy it, they see value for their money, but they also value the guest experience,” Sommer said.