Amsterdam plans to nearly halve the number of cruise ships allowed to visit by 2026, with plans for an entire ban by 2035, its council announced.
Just 100 cruise ships will be allowed to dock in its harbour in 2026, down from 190 at present after cries from residents for a drop in tourism.
Mayor Femke Halsema has long been vocal about their views on cruise tourists, having previously said they engulf the city for a few hours without giving much back, choosing to visit international chains and ignoring the museums.
Tourist numbers are at a record-high in Amsterdam which some residents say is overwhelming the city’s infrastructure. Visitor numbers hit 15.1 million in 2023, up 2.5 million from 2019.
In a statement released by the council, it said reducing pollution is a priority.
The statement read: “Sea cruises are polluting and cause crowds and emissions in the city. We want Amsterdam to be clean, livable, and sustainable.”
A 2021 study found that one cruise carrying thousands of passengers can result in the same levels of emissions per day as 30,000 trucks.
As an environmentally conscious city which has committed to reducing emissions by 55 percent by 2030, Amsterdam will restrict boats to using shore power by 2027 instead of diesel.
The cruise ship limit is part of an array of measures from the city to reduce not only pollution and overcrowding but also to deter partiers who are drawn to the red-light district and cannabis cafes.
Measures in the past have included a Stay Away campaign aimed to discourage young male partiers from visiting, supported by Deputy Mayor Sofyan Mbarki who said: “Visitors will remain welcome but not if they misbehave and cause nuisance.”
The city has also implemented stricter rules on smoking marijuana, especially in the red-light district, banned new hotels from being built, and is looking to reduce the number of river cruises.
The city could stand to lose between €46 million (£38 million) and €103 million (£86 million) in revenue due to tourism restrictions according to Bloomberg, however, a council spokesperson believes there are bigger priorities at hand.
They commented: “If we don’t do this now, we will become less attractive as a city for people and companies. And that will cost more money in the long run.”
Other European cities such as Dubrovnik and Santorini have also capped cruise ship numbers.
