Boats to block Amsterdam canal in protest against new sailing rules
Dozens of boats will block Amsterdam's Herengracht in front of the official residence of Mayor Femke Halsema on Tuesday evening in protest against proposed new sailing rules. The demonstrators hope to create a boat-traffic jam in front of the mayor's door, NU.nl reports.
The Amsterdam city council will vote on the new sailing rules on Wednesday evening. These include a proposal to ban sailing on the canals at night, increasing the mooring fee for pleasure craft considerably, and limiting the number of people allowed on a boat to 12.
The Amsterdam boat owners are dissatisfied with the proposed new rules. According to pleasure craft foundation Stichting Pleziervaart, the new rules will make the canals a playground for tourists and large commercial parties. "The ordinary Amsterdammer will soon have no place on the canal", the foundation said.
The protest is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
