Home » News » CLIA says Amsterdam’s push to ban cruise won’t “happen anytime soon”

24 July, 2023

CLIA says Amsterdam’s push to ban cruise won’t “happen anytime soon”

Amsterdam, The Netherlands - May 10, 2012: Two large cruise ships are docked at the terminal in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. MSC Lirica is moored in front of the Visions of the Seas. A small harbor boat is passing in the foreground.

City councillors in Amsterdam have had their proposal to close the city’s 13-year-old cruise terminal approved, although it won’t be happening any time soon according to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

The proposal stemmed from the city’s sudden bid to quash over tourism and combat the environmental issues that are related to cruise ships sailing around the world.

Amsterdam’s port is one of the biggest in Europe, seeing around 700,000 cruisers arrive on hundreds of ships each year.

According to a 2021 BBC study, one large cruise ship was determined to emit the same amount of nitrogen oxides in one day as 30,000 trucks and the Amsterdam’s centre-right party, D66 is looking to minimise their city’s involvement.

“Polluting cruise ships are not in line with the sustainable ambitions of our city,” the party said in a statement.

Ilana Rooderkerk, leader of the D66 party told the Associated Press, “A clear decision has been made by the council that the cruise (terminal) should leave the city,” in an email on Friday.

“The municipal executive of Amsterdam is now going to work on how to implement it. In any case, as far as we are concerned, large ships no longer moor in the city centre of Amsterdam.”

CLIA, the worldwide body that supports policies and practices to foster a safe, secure, healthy and sustainable industry says the ban won’t be happening any time soon and that recent reporting around the issue is incorrect.

“We are aware of the media reports about the future of cruise in Amsterdam. As the port has publicly stated, cruise ships have not been banned from Amsterdam,” a statement from CLIA, read.

“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 centre which started back in 2016 and which are still ongoing.

“We are working with the authorities to accommodate the views expressed by Council members while continuing to support the communities that benefit from cruise tourism.

“Of the more than 21 million visitors that Amsterdam receives each year, around 1% arrive by cruise ship, with cruise tourism contributing around 105 million Euros to the city annually.”

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