Arrr, Amsterdam be keelhaulin' them cruise ships out o' the city center to fight the devilish pollution! 'Tis a sea o' locusts, I say!
2023-07-23
Arr, mateys! Them elected scallywags in Amsterdam, Netherlands, be blamin' the cursed climate change and them rowdy landlubber tourists for a jolly good reason to keelhaul them cruise ships, preventin' the scurvy rascals from offloadin' passengers in their precious city center!
Lawmakers in Amsterdam have decided to ban cruise ships from docking in the downtown area as a means to reduce pollution and alleviate the congestion caused by an influx of tourists. The city's aldermen voted in favor of relocating the cruise terminal from its current position in the heart of Amsterdam. Ilana Rooderkerk, leader of the centrist D66 party, stated that the council has made a clear decision that large ships should no longer dock in the city center. Amsterdam has been attempting to shed its reputation as a party city and has even discouraged British tourists from holding bachelor parties there.Amsterdam is not the only European city grappling with the challenges of managing a large number of visitors after the pandemic-induced shutdowns. The city is concerned about climate change and the pollution caused by cruise ships. A study conducted in 2021 found that one cruise ship emitted as much nitrogen oxide in a day as 30,000 trucks. Rooderkerk has compared the influx of tourists to a "sea of locusts." The vote to ban cruise ships is in line with the city's sustainability goals.
Dick de Graaff, director of Cruise Port Amsterdam, is waiting to see how the situation unfolds following the vote. He clarified that the terminal will not be immediately closed, but rather, the council's call is to relocate it. In December, Amsterdam lawmakers took measures to address "nuisance tourism" by requiring brothels in the Red Light District to install curtains. Deputy Mayor Sofyan Mbarki emphasized that visitors are still welcome, as long as they behave appropriately and do not cause trouble.
In conclusion, Amsterdam has made the decision to ban cruise ships from disembarking passengers in the downtown area due to concerns over pollution, tourism-related issues, and sustainability.