On this sunny day, a slightly different message than you are used to from us. No fancy ship talk this time, but a request for help
The City of Amsterdam has come up with a new policy. As a result, all existing canal permits will eventually be terminated. This will be replaced by new, short-term permits (valid for 8 years). The only way you can get such a license is by buying expensive lottery tickets in a 2-year lottery. The smaller salon boat shipping companies that operate the classic, picture-perfect salon boats are hereby lumped together with the large tour companies of the well-known tourist boats.
Last week showed how disastrous this lottery is turning out. Several small salon boat shipping companies have been told that they did not draw a winning lottery ticket and therefore will have to take one or more boats out of service in the coming years. They have lost out to wealthy market players who have been able to buy a lot of lottery tickets, thereby attracting most of the licenses.
Rewind the film for a moment and we will see what the end result of this policy will be:
– TheMonopoly positions of large canal shipping companies strengthenedinstead of reduced
–The diversity of ships in the canals will decrease dramatically
–The diversity of supply will decrease. Large shipping companies target tourists because that is the most lucrative. The small shipping companies cater to Dutch people who want to take private or business cruises through Amsterdam. This offer will eventually disappear.
– Decay is occurring to the sailing heritage as healthy operation of the vessels is no longer possible without a license.
–The sustainability of the canal industry will decrease rather than increase. The policy creates an influx of newly built boats built for the short term since a permit is only valid for 8 years. And what happens to those ships after those 8 years?
In short, this policy is dramatic not only for the smaller salon boat shipping companies, but also for Amsterdam itself and the sailing heritage of the Netherlands. That can’t be the intention, can it?
This is why we are asking for your support! We would greatly appreciate it if you would support the petition ‘
Save the salon boats of Amsterdam
‘ and share it as much as you can. To do so, click on the link below. Signing is a snap.
Thank you in advance for your support!
Several media outlets have now covered this bizarre, money-consuming permit carousel. Like, for example, Hart van Nederland last Monday:
