The city of Amsterdam wants to ban sea cruises from 2035 onward. The Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA) must disappear.
It is one of the most far-reaching decisions taken by a major European port city in the debate over cruise tourism, air pollution, and urban space. The departure of the terminal has “clear advantages for sustainability and the environment,” says port councillor Hester van Buren.
She points out that large ships are highly polluting, as they emit substantial amounts of CO2, particulate matter, and nitrogen. The ships are bad for the climate, bring hordes of tourists to our city, and block the IJ bridge.
Financially risky
The debate is driven less by the number of ships than by their disproportionate pollution footprint, especially in dense cities like Amsterdam. A single large cruise ship emits 120 to 150 tons of CO₂ per day while docked, 3 to 6 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx) per day, a key cause of urban air pollution, and significant fine particles (PM2.5) and sulfur oxides, pollutants that road vehicles are no longer allowed to emit.
Relocating the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam is technically feasible but financially risky. By discontinuing sea cruises, Amsterdam would lose €46 million in revenue – seaport fees and day tourist tax – over thirty years. However, according to the alderwoman, compensation can be found in redeveloping the Veemkade and finding a new purpose for the mooring area in the Coenhaven.
Only river cruising
The closure of the sea cruise terminal will affect both direct and indirect employment, but according to Van Buren, the terminal’s disadvantages outweigh the benefits. She believes that cruise shipping is increasingly at odds with the city’s vision, which prioritizes livability, spaciousness, and sustainability.
In 2023, the city council adopted a motion from the D66 party calling for a ban on cruise ships and the relocation of the terminal. Since then, the executive board has halved the number of sea cruise ships, from 190 to a maximum of 100 per year. River cruises are still allowed to dock at Veemkade. Stopping sea cruises is one of the measures the city council wants to take to tackle overtourism and make the city more sustainable.
Belgium is still relatively cruise-friendly
Other European cities have taken similar steps to tackle pollution and overtourism caused by cruise ships. Venice has banned large cruise ships from its historic lagoon, Barcelona and Dubrovnik have capped ship numbers to curb overtourism, and Marseille has not banned cruises, but has prosecuted ship captains and operators for illegal sulfur emissions, showing that maritime pollution can be enforced through courts.
Belgium, by contrast, remains relatively cruise-friendly: Zeebrugge limits daily calls and plans shore power, while Antwerp continues to welcome a modest number of ships without caps.
