Amsterdam lays out plan to limit river cruising

In an attempt to manage the influx of tourists, the city of Amsterdam aims to cap river cruise calls at 1,150 ships per year, according to the city's tourism plan.

In 2024, Amsterdam had 1,950 river ship calls, the city said in its plan. River cruise lines will receive an annual reduction quota for next year, which will be based on bookings from the previous year. 

The European River Cruise Association (also known as IG RiverCruise), which represents European river cruise lines, has set up a working group with the city to exchange thoughts and data related to overtourism.

"River cruising could be a solution and is not part of the problem," said Robbert Verbeek, an association board member and group CFO of river cruise operator Scylla. He added that river cruise operators see themselves as "managed tourism suppliers." 

Verbeek described the tourism generated by river cruises as "temporary and also manageable." River cruises that dock in Amsterdam typically do not spend much time there, as the city is just one stop on what is often a weeklong itinerary.

"It's pretty impossible for them to cut other types of tourism, because they have no control over those types of tourism," Verbeek said. "There are types of tourism which can be managed, like cruises, but also bus excursions. There are also types of tourism which cannot be managed, like … booking Airbnb, for instance. These forms are very unmanageable, and maybe we can come to some kind of situation where they also try to create a grip on those types of tourism."

River cruise passengers make up 2% of annual visitors to Amsterdam, generating about $257 million in direct spending, according to the European River Cruise Association.

The association hopes to find a middle ground with city officials, such as docking in the city only during approved time periods.

"We can perfectly manage that," Verbeek said. 

Amsterdam is also cracking down on ocean cruises. The city aims to phase out cruising at its city center cruise terminal by 2035. The city will limit the number of ocean cruise ships allowed to dock to 100 per year starting in 2026.

River and ocean ships both use the Amsterdam city terminal.

Amsterdam also wants to curb bachelor parties, convert hotels into residences and offices, and distribute tourism more evenly across the city.