The Netherlands Amsterdam introduces environmental zone for boats on canals
Amsterdam is introducing an environmental zone for boats in the city center, which is criss-crossed by canals.
09.03.2025, 05:20
SDA
From April, only leisure boats powered by electricity or hydrogen and rowing boats will be welcome there, the Dutch capital announced. Anyone who does not adhere to the new rules will initially receive a warning, and fines will be imposed from the summer.
Temporary exemptions will apply until 2030 for owners of boats with petrol and diesel engines who have already received a permit to sail for several years for a fee. Historic museum boats are also exempt from the regulation. Continuous waterways on which boats and ships cross Amsterdam are not included in the new environmental zone.
Passenger ships now also only travel emission-free
Since the beginning of the year, passenger ships, i.e. mainly excursion boats on the canals, as well as transport ships have only been allowed to operate with emission-free propulsion in the center of Amsterdam.
The main reasons for introducing the low emission zone on the water are to reduce CO2 emissions and noise pollution. Above all, improving air quality is a priority, said Melanie van der Horst, the city's alderman for transport, as reported by the newspaper "Het Parool". "Amsterdammers live around eleven months shorter and smoke an average of 4.4 cigarettes a day because of the dirty air in the city." According to scientists, the zero-emission boat zone will have a particular impact at busy times, such as on busy summer days.
Charging station strategy for shipping in Amsterdam
In order to make the switch to e-boats a reality, Amsterdam wants to increase the number of charging points for boats from the current 22 to up to 2,500 by 2030, according to the capital's "Charging point strategy for shipping". Het Parool reported that 300 additional charging points are to be installed on the waterfront in the next two years.
The need for such a large network of charging points and the hoped-for environmental and health benefits of e-mobility on the water are a result of the huge number of boats on the water in Amsterdam. According to the city's strategy paper, there are around 14,000 pleasure craft in Amsterdam, with 10,500 vessels moored in public waters. In addition, there are 600 passenger ships, 500 of which are already electrically powered.
