Amsterdam Votes to Ban Cruise Ships

Source: Amsterdam Cruise Port
Amsterdam is taking steps to reduce pollution and manage tourist numbers by banning cruise ships from its city center. The date for the ban is yet to be confirmed, but it is expected soon. To facilitate the ban, the Amsterdam municipality will work with partners in the North Sea Canal area to determine how it can be implemented.
Currently, giant cruise ships are permitted to dock at Cruise Port Amsterdam, located within walking distance of historic areas. However, a campaign with the slogan “Amsterdam sails better without a cruise” was recently introduced by a coalition of green and centrist parties in the Dutch capital citing environmental concerns together with the effects of mass tourism on the city.
Dick de Graaff, director of the cruise terminal operator, told the Associated Press that 114 ships were expected to stop there this year, with 130 forecast for next year.
“There have been discussions on its relocation outside the city center which started back in 2016 and which are still ongoing,” The Cruise Lines International Association said in a statement reported by the Washington Post. “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.”