The central cruise terminal in Amsterdam is set to close. @AMS_Cruise_Port / Twitter
The central cruise terminal in Amsterdam is set to close. @AMS_Cruise_Port / Twitter
The central cruise terminal in Amsterdam is set to close. @AMS_Cruise_Port / Twitter
The central cruise terminal in Amsterdam is set to close. @AMS_Cruise_Port / Twitter

Amsterdam to ban cruise ships in latest effort to curb mass tourism


Evelyn Lau
  • English
  • Arabic

Amsterdam city council has voted to ban cruise ships in its latest attempt to curb mass tourism and pollution.

Due to the ban, the central cruise terminal on the River IJ – near the city’s main train station – will likely close.

This is in part to ongoing efforts to limit the number of tourists in the Dutch capital. Amsterdam is estimated to attract 20 million visitors this year, according to the city’s Research and Statistics unit.

"Polluting cruise ships are not in line with the sustainable ambitions of our city," the centre-right party D66, which runs the city along with social democrats and environmentalists.

The passage of cruise ships, it said, was also not compatible with plans for a new bridge between the city's historic southern district and the Noord district, the focus of recent development projects.

Amsterdam already has regulations in place to address tourism-related overcrowding. The city’s Tourism in Balance ordinance, which began in 2021, establishes a limit of between 10 and 20 million overnight tourist visits per year and requires the city to take action if it appears that number will be exceeded.

Cruise ship bans in Europe

Amsterdam is the latest European city to ban cruise ships. In 2021, Venice stopped allowing large ships from anchoring in its historical centre after damage to its lagoon had Unesco threaten to put the city on its endangered list.

Ada Colau, the mayor of Barcelona, recently said that she would limit the number of cruise tourists in the city if she is re-elected in May. Pollution is also a concern for the Spanish city, which ranked as the worst cruise port for air pollution in Europe in a study carried out by Transport & Environment last year.

The mayor of Marseille, France’s biggest cruise port, has also spoken out against cruise lines, claiming they are “suffocating” the city with air pollution.

Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
​​​​​​​Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books

How it works

Each player begins with one of the great empires of history, from Julius Caesar's Rome to Ramses of Egypt, spread over Europe and the Middle East.

Round by round, the player expands their empire. The more land they have, the more money they can take from their coffers for each go.

As unruled land and soldiers are acquired, players must feed them. When a player comes up against land held by another army, they can choose to battle for supremacy.

A dice-based battle system is used and players can get the edge on their enemy with by deploying a renowned hero on the battlefield.

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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

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Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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What sanctions would be reimposed?

Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:

  • An arms embargo
  • A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
  • A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
  • A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
  • Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
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The specs

Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo and dual electric motors

Power: 300hp at 6,000rpm

Torque: 520Nm at 1,500-3,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 8.0L/100km

Price: from Dh199,900

On sale: now

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

Updated: July 21, 2023, 11:19 AM