A growing number of sea cruise ships are docking in IJmuiden instead of central Amsterdam as the capital tightens restrictions on maritime tourism.
For the first time this year, IJmuiden expects more cruise ship visits than Amsterdam, with 77 ships scheduled compared to 67 in the capital.
Shifting traffic to the coast
The trend marks a sharp reversal from eight years ago, when Amsterdam hosted 180 cruise ships while IJmuiden saw just 30.
Amsterdam has capped ocean cruise ship arrivals at 100 per year to reduce overcrowding and cut city emissions.
Higher tourist taxes and stricter environmental rules for older vessels mean the city is no longer reaching even that lower limit.
New port pressures and plans
The city council has also opposed building a new terminal to replace the existing Passenger Terminal Amsterdam near Central Station.
Future bridge plans over the IJ waterway are expected to block larger ships from reaching the central terminal within the next decade.
The shift leaves coastal ports like IJmuiden absorbing the displaced traffic, with three large vessels arriving simultaneously on peak summer weekends.
How passengers adapt
Cruise lines frequently advertise these itineraries as stops in Amsterdam, leaving arriving passengers to navigate regional transport links after docking.
Travelers usually take shuttles, regional buses, and trains via Amsterdam Sloterdijk, or pay for taxis and direct coaches to reach central attractions.
Local port operators are trying to disperse visitors across the region by offering bike rentals and excursions to nearby locations like Haarlem and the Zaanse Schans.
