Ameland and Terschelling may regain nighttime watertaxi service under proposed trial
Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Barry Madlener has proposed a pilot program to allow watertaxis to operate at higher speeds during nighttime crossings between Ameland, Terschelling, and the mainland, according to NOS. The move aims to end the current nighttime isolation of the islands, which has been in place since January 2023.
Madlener announced the plan in a letter to the Tweede Kamer, stating that he is in discussions with local officials and watertaxi operators about the details. “I am consulting with the administrators of the Wadden Islands and watertaxi entrepreneurs to prepare a pilot,” he wrote. The minister expects to present a finalized plan before summer.
Before January 1, 2023, nighttime accessibility to Ameland and Terschelling was possible through on-demand watertaxi services. However, watertaxi operators ceased nighttime operations due to the strict enforcement of a long-standing speed limit of 20 kilometers per hour (km/h) on the Waddenzee for safety reasons.
The stricter enforcement followed a fatal accident on October 21, 2022, near Terschelling, when a high-speed ferry traveling at 55 km/h collided with a watertaxi going 28 km/h. Four people died in the crash. In response, authorities began enforcing the existing nighttime speed limit, leading to the cessation of watertaxi services during dark hours. Since then, residents and visitors have been unable to leave the islands at night unless in a medical emergency requiring an ambulance helicopter.
Business owner Richard Veltman of Veltman Marine Service said the speed restrictions made nighttime operations unfeasible. “For us, such a slow crossing is simply not viable,” he said. “We are a salvage and towing service, and we used crewtenders for watertaxi operations. These ships are designed for fast transfers, not for slow speeds.”
The lack of nighttime transport has significantly impacted residents and visitors. “It’s like putting a fence around Amsterdam after dark,” said Ameland Mayor Leo Pieter Stoel in an earlier interview. “That would be unthinkable there, and it should be unthinkable here.”
Several incidents have underscored the urgency of the issue. In one case, a family was unable to reach Ameland in time to see a dying relative. In another, teachers faced difficulties attending training courses. The restrictions have also disrupted social life on the islands, limiting opportunities for travel to and from the mainland at night.
The proposed pilot would allow watertaxis to exceed the 20 km/h limit under specific conditions, though details are still being worked out. The goal is to determine in what situations an exception to the current speed regulations is justified and how those exceptions could be implemented in practice.
A maritime research institute, MARIN, will conduct a study to establish safe operating conditions for nighttime watertaxi service. The research will examine vessel and crew requirements to ensure safe, high-speed crossings after dark.
The pilot program still faces potential regulatory hurdles. The Waddenzee is a designated Natura 2000 area, meaning any policy changes affecting the ecosystem must comply with strict environmental protection laws. The impact of increased nighttime boat traffic on wildlife, particularly protected bird species, must be assessed before the pilot can proceed.
Madlener emphasized that the pilot is only a first step. “Our aim is to identify the circumstances in which relaxing the restrictions is feasible and how we can implement those adjustments in practice,” he wrote.
