No more diesel boats on Amsterdam canals: emissions-free zone continues
The Amsterdam city council is introducing an emission-free zone for pleasure boats in the city centre from 1 April. Only boats whose engines are powered by electricity or hydrogen will then be allowed to operate there.
So writes councillor Melanie van der Horst (Traffic, Transport and Air Quality) in a letter to the city council. There is a transitional period for vignette holders who already had a vignette before 1 April 2025. As a result, they may - depending on the vignette they have another three or five years with a diesel-powered boat up the canal. Sailing heritage is exempt from the policy until 2030.
Violators will first receive a warning from 1 April. From July or August, the municipality will start enforcement and fines may be imposed. To support the transition, the municipality plans to establish up to 2,500 charging points for electric pleasure boats in the city before 2030.
Improving air quality
The main reasons for introducing the measure are to improve air quality and reduce CO2-emissions and noise pollution. Improving air quality in particular is a priority, according to Van der Horst.
'Amsterdammers live about 11 months shorter and smoke an average of 4.4 cigarettes a day because of the city's dirty air,' she writes. According to TNO research, the emission-free boating zone will mainly have an effect during peak times, such as busy summer days.
1033 views
The policy to ban internal combustion engine vessels from the city centre dates back to 2023. The policy proposal was open for inspection between 22 April and 10 June last year, to which the municipality received 1033 views. Partly as a result, it was decided to create a transition period for transit vignette holders until 1 January 2028.
Passenger shipping and waterborne transport have already been subject to an obligation to sail emission-free in Amsterdam since 1 January last year. Exceptions are allowed only in special cases. Some operators can use a transition period until 1 March next year.
The preparation and implementation will be paid from the municipal multiannual budget and from CDOKE funds (decentralised government capacity scheme for climate and energy policy) of the government.
From: The Parool by Tom Dieleman