Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA)
Since January 17, 2022, the handling of sea and river cruises in Amsterdam has been the responsibility of Cruise Port Amsterdam.
Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA) is now used primarily as an event venue: exhibitions, conferences, corporate events, et cetera. However, for most sea- and river cruises PTA is still the location where cruise ships arrive and depart.
Table of contents: Cruise Port Amsterdam
- Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA)
- Amsterdam Airport Schiphol or Central Station to the Cruise Ships Terminal
- Directions to Amsterdam’s Cruise Ship Terminal
- Map to and from Cruise Ship Terminal
- Private Transfer
- Hotels Near Passenger Terminal Amsterdam
- Possible Cruise Terminal Move
- Cruise ships provide the city with income
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol or Central Station to the Cruise Ships Terminal
It is easy to travel from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA). PTA is where most seafaring cruise ships dock. Most river cruise ships also moor in the vicinity.
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Directions to Amsterdam’s Cruise Ship Terminal
The cruise terminal is located at Piet Heinkade 27, Amsterdam, just east of Central Station. [Map]
From Amsterdam Airport Schipol
- From Amsterdam Central Station
Your options to reach the cruise terminal:
- Walk
Walk to the cruise pier (about 10 minutes, one-third of the way at a gentle incline) - Tram 26
The tram stop is at the city side of the train station, at the far-eastern end. A tram arrives every 4-6 minutes.
Note: You must buy a ticket from the driver. No cash! Debit or credit card only. That means you pay a usually disadventageous exchange rate plus whatever fees your bank adds. Do yourself a favor and buy day tickets ahead of time (particularly since you probably will go into town after dropping of your luggage).You travel just one stop (The stop is called ‘Muziekgebouw Bimhuis’)
- Taxi
If a 10-minute walk with luggage is not your thing (or you just don’t want to do it during a rain shower), take a taxi. The taxi rank is located at the IJ-side — the station entrance across from the River IJ — at the far-west exit. [map]This short, 5 minute ride, can cost between €7,50 and €12,50 – if not more (Amsterdam taxi firms do not have a good reputation)
- Private Transfer – To and From Airport or Hotel
A private transfer is a popular option. You can expect a luxurious vehicle with a courteous driver.
- Walk
Map to and from Cruise Ship Terminal
Private Transfer
Hotels Near Passenger Terminal Amsterdam
Many cruise ship passengers spend a few days in Amsterdam before and/or after their cruise.
Since Amsterdam is so compact, basically any Hotel, Hostel, or Bed & Breakfast in the center of the city is a good choice. See our Amsterdam Hotel Guide for our suggestions, ranging from budget- to luxury hotels.
The highly rated Mövenpick Hotel, right next to the cruise ship terminal, is a popular choice. It offers spectacular views of the River IJ and the city center.
Similar views have people raving about the Sir Adam Hotel, which is situated across the river in the iconic A’DAM Toren (which comes complete with a fabulous observation deck).
Take a look at these options:
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Possible Cruise Terminal Move
The Passenger Terminal Amsterdam may have to be moved to a new location in the near future.
The new terminal will be located in the Port of Amsterdam — outside the city’s center. It would have to be operational by 2030.
There is a possibility that the current terminal will continue to operate, servicing small cruise ships only.
There are two reasons behind the proposed move:
- New Bridges
The borough of Amsterdam Noord, historically ‘cut off’ from the rest of the city by the River IJ, is growing by leaps and bounds.There are three tunnels for cars and buses, and there is one multi-purpose bridge at the far east side of the river. Pedestrians and cyclists are ferried back and forth with free ferries operated by the Municipal Transport Company (GVB).
But since even more and larger ferries, sailing more often than before, cannot seem to keep up with the growing flow of traffic, the city has decided to build at least one bridge for cyclists and pedestrians. A second bridge will likely follow soon.
These bridges will make it difficult for all but the smallest of cruise ships to reach the cruise ship terminal at its current location. The reason for this is that the larger cruise ships must first make their way into the portion of the river called ‘Buiten IJ‘ (Outer IJ) in order to turn around. A bridge would prevent cruise ships from reaching that portion of the IJ.
Few Amsterdammers support the proposed bridges. The Port authority, the Federal Government, the Province of Noord Holland, and Rijkswaterstaat — part of the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment — all oppose the bridges as well. Most want the city to opt for tunnels instead.
But alas, wisdom and levelheadedness are two qualities that tend to be particularly scarce at Amsterdam city hall.
- Overtourism
The city claims that the very location of the cruise terminal — right in the center of the city — contributes to overtourism. This despite the fact that the city center remains crowded with tourists during the months of November through March, when relatively few cruise ships arrive.While Amsterdam is struggling to address the problems caused by overtourism, many people say that discouraging ‘high quality’ tourists such as cruise passengers is not the best approach.
That said, it is a fact that the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam has seen a lot more ships in recent years.
Whereas the PTA served 75 cruise ships in 2006, last year 153 moored at its quays. In 2018 the terminals expects to welcome 185 ships.1Currently the Port of Amsterdam is also visited by 1900 river cruise ships and 39.000 inland cargo vessels a year.
The city council notes that most passengers will board tour buses, which the city wants to ban from the center of town.
But the council members’ suggestion that tourists will be more likely to bypass a visit to Amsterdam in favor of tourist attractions in the region is poppycock.
The Executive Board of Amsterdam points out that a new terminal in the Coenhaven will be able to handle 230 ships (700.000 passengers) a year. In addition, it will be able to accommodate mega ships — those longer than 360 meters.
From 2019 these ships will be able to pass the sea locks in IJmuiden, 25 km (14 nautical miles) away. The quay at the current PTA location cannot service these ships.
But members of the City Council have indicated that they do not intend to allow PTA to grow in the number of ships it handles. They say that growth can only be considered if and when it becomes clear that the new terminal location discourages passengers from visiting the city center. In our view, that is a foolish way to think and act. Politicians…
Cruise ships provide the city with income
Each cruise ship on average results in about a half million euro income for the city — in terms of what passengers spend, especially those who start or end their cruise in Amsterdam. Think about airport tax, hotel tax, and sales tax in shops and restaurants.
Also included in that amount is turnover tax paid by local businesses.
Footnotes
- 1Currently the Port of Amsterdam is also visited by 1900 river cruise ships and 39.000 inland cargo vessels a year. ↩︎
Anton and Janet Hein live and work in Amsterdam. We are the publishers of DutchAmsterdam.
Anton was born on a houseboat in the center of Amsterdam, right across from the iconic Westertoren and what later became the Anne Frank House museum. Having lived in nearly every district since then, he knows the city like his own back pocket.
Janet was born in England and raised in Ireland before moving to Amsterdam 42 years ago. Even to date she brings an expat’s perspective to the DutchAmsterdam website.
Last updated Sunday, February 9, 2025 CET (Central European Time)
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