Amsterdam banning diesel boats from canals in new emission-free zone

Amsterdam is introducing an emission-free zone for pleasure craft in the city center. From April 1, only electric or hydrogen boats will be allowed to sail the city center canals, alderman Melanie van der Horst (Air Quality) wrote in a letter to the city council, Parool reports.

There will be a transition period for vignette holders who already had a vignette before April 1. They’ll be allowed to sail their diesel boats on the canals for another three to five years, depending on the vignette they have. Floating heritage is exempt until 2030.

The city will start handing out warnings on April 1. Enforcement with fines will start in July or August.

The main reason for this emission-free zone is to improve air quality, Van der Horst said. “Amsterdammers live approximately 11 months less and smoke an average of 4.4 cigarettes per day due to the dirty air in the city,” she wrote to the council. The measure should also lower CO2 emissions and reduce noise pollution.

Passenger shipping and water transport in Amsterdam have been required to be emission-free since January 1, though an exception applies for some operators until March 1 next year.