Amsterdam city council votes to ban cruise ships; no plans for immediate closure
Amsterdam's city council on July 20 voted to ban cruise ships from the center of Amsterdam in order to limit tourism and ease pollution in the Dutch capital. The council claims cruise ship vessels are not conducive to the city's efforts to limit tourism and boost sustainability, according to a statement from the Democrats 66 party.
For the ban to be enacted, it will have to go through other levels of approval. If approved, it will see the closure of Cruise Port Amsterdam on the river IJ near the city's main train station, Amsterdam Centraal Station. Currently, ship calls are still scheduled there until July 2025.
The closest alternative port is the west coast IJmuiden, 24 miles away. However, the Cruise Lines International Association — an organization that advocates for cruise lines at the federal level — said in a statement that it's more likely the existing facility could be moved elsewhere within the city.
"As the port has publicly stated, cruise ships have not been banned from Amsterdam," CLIA said. "Furthermore, the port and Passenger Terminal Amsterdam have already pledged to undertake investments worth millions of Euros in port infrastructure and shoreside electricity for the long term. There have been discussions on its relocation outside the city center, which started back in 2016 and which are still ongoing."
Ultimately, cruise lines are skeptical that ships will be completely barred from docking in Amsterdam. "Holland America Line has been bringing guests to and from The Netherlands for 150 years, and that tradition will continue for many years to come," the line told The Points Guy in a statement when asked how a ban might affect the brand's longstanding history in the region.
Several other big-name cruise operators currently list Amsterdam itineraries, too. They include Royal Caribbean, P&O Cruises and Cunard Line. The city is a popular embarkation port or stop on transatlantic, British Isles and Northern and Western Europe itineraries. Many river cruise lines, such as Viking and AmaWaterways, also embark ships or dock in the city on Rhine River and "Tulip Time" cruises around Belgium and the Netherlands.
TPG has contacted Cruise Port Amsterdam and several cruise operators, including river lines, for more details on how the ban may affect scheduled cruises to the city and will update this story when we hear back.
The crackdown on cruises is the latest move by the city to reduce tourism in the Dutch capital, which has seen numerous recent campaigns to discourage tourists attracted by its infamous party town reputation and reduce group travel.
Related: How to spend 1 day in Amsterdam
The proposal to ban cruises had been put forward by the Democrats 66 party, which oversees the city alongside the social democratic PvdA and the GroenLinks environmentalists.
"[Cruise pollution] does not match the sustainable ambitions of our city," D66 politician Ilana Rooderkerk said in a statement. "In addition, cruise ships in the city center do not fit into Amsterdam's task to reduce the number of tourists. In other words, Amsterdam sails better without cruises."
Officials see banning cruise ships as an easy win for Amsterdam's ambitious sustainability target of becoming completely emission-free by 2030. One 2021 emissions study found a single big cruise ship produced the same pollution levels in a single day as 30,000 trucks.
Further bolstering its sustainability efforts, the Dutch government also plans a 12% reduction in air traffic to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) by 2024. The plan will see the airport's current annual cap of 500,000 flight movements cut to 440,000.
In addition, Amsterdam has a reputation as one of Europe's most notorious cities, famed for its cannabis cafes and red light district, with around 22 million tourists flocking there every year. In recent years, city officials have sought to reinvent the image of the Dutch capital by reducing party tourism and upping their sustainability stakes.
Mayor Femke Halsema, a former GroenLinks party leader, has been a strong proponent of reducing "party tourism" in the city. "We do not want to become Venice or Dubrovnik, where your historical center has become a closed theme park," Halsema told Bloomberg in 2022. "In the future, it has to be a livable part of the city."
Earlier this year, the city council launched "Stay Away," an online campaign to dissuade visitors — particularly bachelor parties — and discourage rowdy and disruptive behavior.
In May, the council introduced new rules that made it illegal to smoke cannabis on the street and imposed earlier closing times for restaurants, bars and sex worker venues.
As per the new regulations, sex workers must now close their venues at 3 a.m., with bars and restaurants forced to close at 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and new visitors no longer permitted to enter the old city center after 1 a.m.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- 15 ways cruisers waste money
- 15 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
- What to pack for a cruise
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees