DutchNews.nl - Canal boat firms fear chaos if Amsterdam liberalises licensing

Tourism on Amsterdam's canals can be better regulated by allowing everyone to have a licence to transport passengers, if they meet very strict rules on safety, nuisance and the environment, according to a new report drawn up for the city council.

The city council has stopped issuing new licences because of the volume of traffic on the canals, leading to complaints that the big boat companies have a virtual monopoly and it is impossible for newcomers to enter the market.

In addition, there are a large number of illegal boat operators and little stimulus for the existing licence holders to clean up their act, officials say.

Last year, some three million tourists took a canal trip on one of 332 licensed boats. Most licences are in the hands of four big companies.

By liberalising the licencing system and getting much tougher on people who break the rules, research bureau SEO Economisch Onderzoek says more people would be able to set up canal-based companies and the problem of illegality would be tackled.

The Volkskrant points out that liberalising the Amsterdam taxi system in 2000 resulted in chaos and the after-effects are still being dealt with.

Felix Guttmann of the Canal Company told the paper a similar situation would develop on the water: 'Everyone with a simple boat will be out there by the Damrak and Anne Frank house on sunny days, trying to pick up passengers'.

Last time licences were awarded in Amsterdam there were more than 1,000 requests for 75 places, the Volkskrant said.

But Barbara Baarsma of the research bureau says such fears are unfounded because meeting the tough new standards will require considerable investment.

Should Amsterdam liberalise the canal licence rules? Have your say using the comment box below.

Readers' Comments

Neoliberalism is chaos.

By Philippe | 18 October 2012 10:02 AM

If like the "dental project" the idea is to make this service more competitive and affordable to the consumer whilst keeping control of quality in check, how can this hurt? The big companies are probably crying but that's because they stand to lose a rather potentially large piece of the very profitable pie...

By Michael | 18 October 2012 10:13 AM

If the number of boats right now is not enough for the visitors so that may cause a problem but it seems that there is no waiting foa a boat I never waited there were enough boats for the clients.

By Tunc CAN | 18 October 2012 10:38 AM

Amsterdam needs liberating in general from the forces determined to turn it into a identikit tourist destination.

By Dr Ponzi | 18 October 2012 10:54 AM

Of course the boat licensing system should be liberalised. Look how fantastic Amsterdam taxis have become since deregulisation!

By Bill C | 18 October 2012 3:44 PM

This will not be a problem once the widtpas is in place. There will not be a need for boats if the tourists no longer flood the city.

By Rplenty | 18 October 2012 4:05 PM

Liberating the boating industry in Amsterdam is probably a good and smart thing. Doing it in a similar way to liberating the taxi industry, is however not a smart idea. The big players have nothing to worry about. No one is going to spend a fortune to buy a rondvaart boat. The little guys will suffer from liberating the market. From the 300 illegal boats operating in Amsterdam, 300 are open boats called "sloepen". Most of these illegal boats are owned by private individuals or rich students, trying to make an additional dime. To allow these people to go commercial is not a good idea. Non of these boats have Scheepvaart Inspectie and they are all unsafe for commercial renting.

By Andrew | 19 October 2012 7:49 AM