The municipality of Amsterdam has banned cruise ships from arriving in the city center – this is one of the ways in which the capital of the Netherlands tries to reduce the number of tourists and pollution, writes BBC.
Politicians have stated that cruise ships are not in line with the city’s progress towards sustainability. This means that the central cruise ship terminal near Amsterdam’s main train station will be closed.
The cruise ship ban is the latest in a series of measures to curb mass tourism. Ships have become a symbol of problems – more than 100 dock in the capital every year. The municipality is trying to make the city cleaner, for example by banning marijuana smoking on the street in the red light district. In March, the city launched a campaign urging young British men planning to hold bachelor parties in Amsterdam to stay away.
Amsterdam has become a victim of its own popularity.
Around 20 million tourists visit it every year, some of whom are attracted by the city’s reputation for fun.
Ilana Rooderkerk of the liberal party D66 pointed out that cruise ships in the city center are not in line with Amsterdam’s task of reducing the flow of tourism. She recently compared cruise ship tourists to a swarm of locusts taking over downtown at the same time. Other Amsterdam politicians have condemned such a comparison, however, last year the mayor of the city, Femke Halsema, complained that ship passengers are let into the city for a few hours, eat at restaurants of international chains, and don’t even have time to go to the museum. Therefore, according to the politician, tourists consume the city without making any contribution.
Another reason for banning cruise ships is the desire to reduce air pollution. A 2021 study found that one cruise ship produces as much nitrogen oxide emissions as 30 thousand caravans during the day.
Amsterdam has also announced plans to help improve its nightlife culture. The goal is to find and develop unused garages and tunnels to help young, creative minds who want to organize events in the evenings and nights.
2023-07-21 10:15:08
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