Electric ferry tender: GVB aims to grow to fifteen IJ ferries

The electric ferry tender is the next big step in making the Amsterdam ferries more sustainable. GVB Veren announced it will start two separate tenders after the summer of 2026 for emission-free sailing on the IJ. The first tender covers the construction and delivery of four new ferries, the second covers their full electrification. Notably, the ship contract includes an option for eleven more ferries, which would let the fleet grow to fifteen electric IJ ferries. For travellers who cross daily between the city centre and Amsterdam-Noord, this marks a long-term renewal of the fleet.

Two tenders for electric ferries on the IJ

GVB deliberately chose two separate tenders instead of one large package. The first focuses on the vessels themselves, the second on the electrification: from shore charging infrastructure all the way to the batteries on board. By splitting the tracks, the development of the ships and the delivery of the charging infrastructure can each follow their own planning, market and dynamics. At the same time GVB sets clear system requirements, so that ship, shore, energy supply and operation align well. The starting point is that electric sailing must fit fully within the existing timetable, so passengers notice little of it in practice. This approach builds on the earlier purchase of four new electric ferries in early 2026.

From four to fifteen electric IJ ferries

The numbers show how large the ambition behind this tender really is. The ship contract includes an option for eleven more ferries on top of the first four. If GVB exercises that option, the Amsterdam fleet grows to fifteen electric IJ ferries over the coming years. That scaling-up is not a goal in itself, but ties in with the growth of Amsterdam-Noord and the rising number of crossings over the IJ. A larger electric fleet should prepare the ferries for more passengers without falling back on polluting diesel boats. You can follow how passenger numbers develop through our ferry statistics, where the long-term trends on the IJ routes become visible.

Lines F3 and F2 as the busiest links first

The first step of the tender focuses on the two busiest ferry links in Amsterdam. Those are line F3 to the Buiksloterweg and line F2 to IJplein, the ferries that handle the most traffic from Centraal Station. Together these routes carry nearly 20 million passengers a year: roughly 15.8 million to the Buiksloterweg and 3.6 million to IJplein. It is precisely on those full lines that emission-free sailing is most valuable, because less exhaust is released above the busy water. Reliable delivery of the timetable remains the guiding principle, so commuters and visitors do not face longer waits because of the renewal. Anyone using these routes daily will mainly notice the switch to electric ferries through quieter and cleaner boats.

Lessons from earlier projects and the role of crewing

GVB stresses that it learned from earlier renewal projects during the preparation. Fleet renewal project manager Mathijs de Graaf indicated that the focus is firmly on manufacturability, a clear scope and good cooperation between the shipyard and the system integrator. Only with clear design coordination and agreements on responsibilities can reliably deployable vessels be delivered. That emphasis on reliability fits the GVB ferry contract 2026–2036, which sets a norm of at least 99% of scheduled sailing hours. But new boats do not sail by themselves: without enough crew, even the finest electric fleet stays at the quay, as the skipper shortage painfully shows this summer. The tender and the crewing question are therefore two sides of the same puzzle around the future of the ferries.

What the electric ferries mean for ferry passengers

For daily ferry passengers this tender is mainly a longer-term promise. The City of Amsterdam and GVB are aiming for a fully emission-free ferry system, without CO2 and nitrogen emissions, for cleaner air and cleaner water. Until the first electric boats sail on lines F3 and F2, the existing ferries and piers carry the crossing. So little changes in practice for now, except that you will see the renewal appear step by step in the vessels. Anyone who wants to be sure of current departure times is best off checking them just before departure via the ferry hub or one of the ferry apps. We collect more news about the Amsterdam ferries, from timetables to investments, on the news index.

Pont is an independent travel information source and not an official GVB product. This article summarises public reporting on the electric ferry tender, so you can more quickly gauge what is changing on the IJ routes. Official tender and timetable information remains with GVB and the City of Amsterdam. Plans around tenders and options may also still change as the projects progress. When in doubt, always check the latest GVB information before you set out.