The city of Amsterdam (Netherlands) has announced plans to address increasing congestion on ferries crossing the IJ River by introducing larger vessels and increasing the frequency of crossings in the coming years.
Traffic alderwoman Melanie van der Horst of the D66 party outlined the city's strategy, attributing the rise in passenger numbers to the growing population in North Amsterdam. She emphasized the importance of scaling up ferry services to accommodate this demand, highlighting investments in larger ferries, more frequent crossings, and extended operating hours for routes such as the Distelweg-Pontsteiger service, which will also run on weekends beginning January 1st.
Despite these initiatives, the city's plans face challenges, particularly a shortage of ferry captains. The public transport operator GVB has been actively recruiting, including efforts in Urk, to meet the demand for ~40 new captains over the next several years.
Long-term solutions to alleviate congestion have been under discussion for years, with options such as a pedestrian and cyclist tunnel, additional metro stations, and permanent bridges considered. Ultimately, the city has opted to construct two fixed bridges for pedestrians and cyclists: the East Bridge and the West Bridge. The East Bridge will be built first, connecting the Hamerkwartier area on the northern bank of the IJ River with Azartplein on the southern bank. This project, slated for completion in 2034, has faced delays due to planning and funding challenges. However, in July, van der Horst confirmed that funding was secured, supported by contributions from the city and the Amsterdam Transport Region.
Until the bridge infrastructure is realized, heavy reliance on ferry services is expected to persist as the population and demand for crossings continue to grow.