The City of Amsterdam Considers Complete Cruise Ship Ban by 2035
c: Cruise Port Amsterdam
Amsterdam Considers Full Ban on Ocean Cruise Ships by 2035
Amsterdam is increasingly considering a complete ban on ocean-going cruise ships, as city leaders signal a shift away from earlier plans that focused on limiting cruise traffic rather than eliminating it altogether.
The city’s mayor and several aldermen have indicated that ending cruise ship calls within the next decade may now be their preferred long-term solution, although no formal proposal has yet been introduced.
The idea of banning cruise ships is not new, but until recently Amsterdam’s strategy centered on reducing their impact. The existing policy aimed to sharply restrict cruise traffic in the city, allowing no more than one ocean-going cruise ship per day and limiting annual calls to 100. Ships would also be required to connect to shore power starting in 2027, while further limits on river cruise vessels were under consideration.
A central element of that plan involved relocating the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam from its current downtown location to the Western Harbor Area outside the city by 2035. That relocation, however, remains uncertain, as it depends on the publication of a full feasibility report that has yet to be released.
According to several city officials, the high cost of constructing a new cruise terminal, combined with the expected loss of revenue resulting from strict cruise ship limits, has reopened the debate. Some now argue that imposing a complete ban on cruise ship traffic would be more practical than investing in expensive new infrastructure for a shrinking cruise market.
Councilman Rob Hofland expressed that view bluntly, saying the city is finally ready to “free Amsterdam from these floating apartment blocks.”
Despite the growing support among some officials, a cruise ship ban is not yet an official policy proposal. Any final decision would be made by the city council following local elections scheduled for March, leaving the future of cruising in Amsterdam unresolved for now.
If a full ban is eventually adopted, cruise passengers would still have options for visiting the Dutch capital. Rotterdam is increasingly positioned as an alternative cruise port, and several cruise lines already call there instead of Amsterdam. The shift has been driven partly by public opposition to large cruise ships and protests by anti-cruise activists.
Rotterdam is located about an hour from Amsterdam by car, making it a practical gateway for travelers who wish to explore the city even if cruise ships are no longer permitted to dock in the capital.
Why This Matters to Cruisers
For cruise travelers, a potential ban would likely mean itineraries shifting away from Amsterdam toward nearby ports rather than the city disappearing from cruise routes altogether.
Sailings that once docked in the capital could instead call at ports such as Rotterdam, requiring additional ground transportation to reach Amsterdam’s historic center. While this would add travel time, it would still allow cruisers to visit one of Europe’s most popular destinations—just with a different arrival experience.