Amsterdam has four places where cruise ships dock, and they are not all close to the city. Check your berth before you plan your day ashore.
| Where | Distance to the centre | Used by |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA) | About 15 minutes on foot from Centraal Station | Ocean ships |
| De Ruyterkade and Oosterdokskade quays | 3 to 20 minutes on foot | River ships |
| Zaandam | About 17 km, 20 to 30 minutes by car | River and smaller ships |
| IJmuiden (Felison Terminal) | 30 to 35 km, 30 to 45 minutes by car | Large ocean ships |
Since 2026 the PTA takes a maximum of 100 sea cruise calls a year, so more large ships now dock in IJmuiden or Rotterdam. Check your ship in our Ocean Cruise Calendar or River Cruise Calendar.
Last updated: 28 September 2026
Planning around a specific ship? See exactly which vessels call at each port, and when, in our Netherlands sea cruise calendar covering Amsterdam, IJmuiden and Rotterdam.
You’ve booked your river or ocean cruise and it’s set to dock in Amsterdam. However, did you know that Amsterdam has more than one cruise dock, and some are not as close to the city as their names might suggest? The map below shows the locations of the different docks.
Before you start planning your shore leave, it’s a good idea to triple-check exactly which quay your ship will be using. Dock assignments can change sometimes at very short notice, and occasionally you may find yourself on the opposite side of the city from where you expected to be.
To help you prepare, here’s a run-down of the main cruise docks serving Amsterdam, from city-centre terminals to those a little further afield. All of these docks can be labelled ‘Port of Amsterdam’.
Docking at the PTA? See our private shore excursions from Amsterdam Passenger Terminal, built around your ship’s hours in port.
The Passenger Terminal Amsterdam, commonly referred to as PTA, is the main terminal for large ocean-going cruise ships. The PTA sits directly on the River IJ just east of Amsterdam Central Station, it offers easy access to the city centre by foot, tram or taxi. The Movenpick Hotel is located beside the PTA.
Quay Address: Piet Heinkade 27, 1019 BR Amsterdam
Distance from Central Station: Approx. 1.5 km (about 15 minutes on foot or 5 minutes by tram). The Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA) is the primary cruise terminal for large ocean-going vessels such as Celebrity, Holland America Line, P&O etc.
You can check departure and arrival dates at Cruise Port Amsterdam (PTA) via the Sea Cruise Calendar
Amsterdam is also a major hub for river cruises, especially those travelling along the Rhine and Danube. River cruise vessels do not use a single terminal, but instead dock along designated quays or mooring points along the riverbanks, mainly along De Ruyterkade and Oosterdokskade. Most of these quays are within walking distance of the city’s main sights.
You can check departure and arrival dates for river cruises in Amsterdam (PTA) via the River Cruise Calendar. For a complete 2026 and 2027 schedule including Zaandam berth assignments, updated daily, see our River Cruise Calendar for the Netherlands.
Common Quay Names: De Ruyterkade and Oosterdokskade, also known as De Ruyterkade Oost (east of central station), De Ruyterkade West (west of central station), Westersdokdijk and Westerhoofd.
Addresses:
Ruyterkade Oost: De Ruyterkade 53, 1011AC
Ruyterkade West: De Ruyterkade West opposite Havengebouw, 1011AC Amsterdam
Westersdokdijk, 1013 CG
Westerhoofd 5, 1013 BS
Distance from Central Station: 0.3–1.5 km (3–20 minutes on foot)
Cruise lines such as Viking, AmaWaterways, Riverside and Avalon typically dock here.
Rivercruise ships at De Ruijterkade
Zaandam Cruise Port
The Port of Zaandam occasionally hosts smaller cruise vessels and occasionally receives cruise ships. It is a quiet and pleasant location about 30 minutes north-west of Amsterdam that still provides excellent access to the capital.
Quay Name: Haven Zaandam, Havenstraat 1, 1506 PR Zaandam
Distance from Amsterdam Central Station: Approx. 17 km (20-30 minutes by car)
Wondering which river cruise ships are in Amsterdam on a specific date? Our River Cruise Calendar Amsterdam 2026 shows the full day-by-day schedule across all PTA berths, Zaandam and Zaanse Schans, updated daily from Cruise Port Amsterdam.
Docking at IJmuiden? See our private shore excursions from IJmuiden (Felison Terminal), with pickup right at the terminal.
Located around 40 kilometres west of Amsterdam on the North Sea coast, IJmuiden is a deep-water port used primarily by larger ocean liners that cannot sail directly into the city.
Quay Name: Felison Cruise Terminal, Sluisplein 55, 1975 AG IJmuiden
Distance from Amsterdam Central Station: Approx. 30–35 km (about 30–45 minutes by car or coach, around an hour by bus and train)
You can check departure and arrival dates on the Felison Cruise Terminal Calendar
Note: Some ferries and smaller ships may use the nearby Felison Terminal, so always check your cruise documentation.
| Terminal | Quay Name(s) | Distance from City Centre | Type of Cruise |
| Passenger Terminal Amsterdam | Piet Heinkade 27 | 1.8 km | Ocean cruises |
| River Cruise Quays | De Ruyterkade, Oosterdokskade, Ruyterkade West, Havengebouw, Westersdokdijk, Westerhoofd 5 |
0.3–6 km | River cruises |
| Zaandam | Havenstraat 1 | 17 km | Smaller ocean/River cruises |
| IJmuiden | Sluisplein 55 (Felison Terminal) | 30–35 km | Ocean cruises |
This map shows the main locations of the docks.
Amsterdam Experiences specialises in private shore excursions for cruise guests, collected directly from the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam and tailored to make every hour count. Whether you have three hours or a full day in port, we design the experience entirely around what matters most to you.
Sailing into Rotterdam instead? See our private shore excursions from Rotterdam Cruise Terminal. For all of our cruise port tours, visit the shore excursions hub.
Autumn is one of the busiest stretches of the Dutch cruise calendar. Ships finishing their Baltic and Norwegian fjord itineraries call through September and October before repositioning south for the winter, and ocean calls then thin out through November. Berths are also tighter than they used to be. Since January 2026 the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam works to an annual cap of 100 sea cruise calls, with a single berth available per day, so more large ships are routed to the Felison Cruise Terminal in IJmuiden. River cruises carry on well past the ocean season, with Rhine Christmas market sailings running into December. Check which quay your ship is using in our Ocean Cruise Calendar before you plan your day ashore.
Amsterdam is deliberately reducing the number of cruise ships that come into the city centre. If you are booking a cruise for 2026 or 2027, these are the changes that can affect where your ship docks.
What it means for your day ashore: check your berth as soon as your cruise line confirms it. From the PTA you can walk into the city. From IJmuiden, Zaandam or Rotterdam, plan your transport in advance or book a tour that collects you at the ship. See our private shore excursions from IJmuiden, Zaandam and Rotterdam.
Amsterdam has several cruise terminals: the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA) near Central Station, the river cruise quays along De Ruyterkade and Oosterdokskade, Zaandam Cruise Port, and the Felison Cruise Terminal in IJmuiden, about 30 to 35 km from the city, roughly 30 to 45 minutes by road.
From the PTA you can walk to Central Station in about fifteen minutes, or take a tram. From IJmuiden you will need a taxi, a private transfer or a bus, and should allow around an hour each way. Amsterdam Experiences offers private transfers from all terminals.
The PTA is about 1.5 km from Central Station and a short walk or tram ride from the Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House. The Felison Cruise Terminal in IJmuiden is approximately 30 to 35 km from the city centre, about 30 to 45 minutes by road.
A full day of eight to ten hours allows you to see the main highlights. Half-day shore excursions of four to five hours can cover the key sights with an experienced private guide.
Quite a lot, if you dock centrally. From the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam you are about fifteen minutes on foot from Central Station and inside the canal ring shortly after. A realistic half day is one museum plus one neighbourhood: the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh Museum, followed by a canal cruise or a walk through the Jordaan. If you are berthed at IJmuiden, allow a full hour each way and keep the plan to a single highlight. Book museum and Anne Frank House tickets before you sail, as same-day entry is rarely available, and always leave an hour of buffer before all aboard.
Luggage storage is available at Amsterdam Central Station (Stationsplein), a short distance from the PTA. It is worth booking in advance during peak season.
Amsterdam is generally well set up for mobility needs. The PTA has level access, and Amsterdam Experiences can arrange private accessible tours and transfers on request.
Since 2026 Amsterdam allows a maximum of 100 sea cruise calls a year at the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam, with one berth per day, and some of the largest ships cannot sail into the city at all. Those ships dock at the Felison Terminal in IJmuiden on the North Sea coast, about 30 to 35 km from the city centre.
By car or coach the journey takes about 30 to 45 minutes. By public transport, a bus to Amsterdam Sloterdijk and then a train or tram into the centre takes around an hour. Many cruise lines run shuttle buses, or you can book a private shore excursion that collects you at the terminal.
