Officials in Amsterdam are advancing a policy proposal to eliminate port calls by ocean-going cruise ships within the city limits by the year 2035, part of a broader maritime and urban planning strategy aimed at managing overtourism and its effects on the historic Dutch capital. The launch of this initiative comes as the city prepares for municipal elections in March 2026, after which the newly formed city executive will be positioned to determine whether the phase-out will proceed. Amsterdam’s authorities have weighed the costs and benefits of relocating the existing sea cruise terminal outside the city against the option of discontinuing visits by large seagoing vessels, concluding that the substantial investment required to move the terminal would entail greater financial uncertainty than a gradual cessation of calls by ocean liners.
The projected economic impact of ending ocean cruise visits has been quantified by municipal analysts at around EUR 46 million in foregone port fees and tourism-related revenue over the next three decades, a figure that would accrue as the presence of large passenger ships diminishes. Amsterdam already has implemented measures to curb cruise traffic, including lowering the annual cap on ocean cruise ship calls to 100 beginning in 2026 and mandating shore-power connections for docking vessels to reduce emissions. Alongside these steps, river cruise ship movements are also subject to stricter limits, with the intent to balance the flow of visitors arriving by watercraft with the city’s sustainability and livability objectives.
Under the proposed framework, river vessels would continue to access Amsterdam’s docks — albeit in reduced numbers — while ocean cruise ships would be effectively phased out by mid-century. The final decision rests with incoming municipal leadership, which is tasked with assessing the long-term implications for urban quality of life and tourism dynamics before formalising any ban on seagoing cruise calls.