Amsterdam’s long-planned measures to cut the number of cruise ships visiting the city have gotten an unexpected and unwelcome speedup from a protest group that’s blocked a key waterway.
Extinction Rebellion, an environmental protest group, been blockading the Ijmuiden sea lock that allows ships to enter Amsterdam’s waters. As a result, a number of ships have skipped their port calls, including most recently Disney Dream.
While the city is trying to cut the number of ocean-going cruise ships visiting the city to 100 a year and to move their mooring space out of the city center, the industry is still important to the city’s economy. City officials estimate that losing a ship means a loss of up to €800,000 in port fees, terminal fees, tourist tax and passengers and crew spending. As well, there is also an effect on shops, taxis and more.
The limit on cruise ships is part of a broad package of measures to limit the growth of tourism and combat nuisance in the Dutch capital. “The city council wants a liveable, clean and sustainable city,” said council ports chief Hester van Buren. “Sea cruises are a polluting form of tourism and contribute to crowds and pollution.” The “balanced steps,” she said, “aim to meet what is reasonable and acceptable to everyone involved in the North Sea Canal Area”.
