New 10-year GVB ferry contract 2026–2036 for Amsterdam ferries

In February 2026 Amsterdam and GVB confirmed a new 10-year ferry contract for 2026–2036. The core of the GVB ferry contract is clear: Amsterdam ferries must deliver at least 99% of scheduled sailing hours. The contract also includes slightly expanded operating windows and earlier starts on IJ routes. For travellers linking Noord and the city centre, that framework supports longer-term stability. Background on all IJ connections is on the ferry hub and in the guide Amsterdam-Noord by ferry.

99% reliability target for scheduled sailing hours

For ferry passengers the GVB ferry contract is mainly a promise of stability on Amsterdam ferries. A ten-year contract gives GVB and the city a framework to invest in boats, crew, and timetables. The rule of at least 99% of scheduled sailing hours is at the same time a hard performance bar. Slightly expanded hours and earlier starts should make IJ crossings available across a slightly wider window. How those requirements relate to growing passenger volumes can be followed via ferry statistics.

That promise on paper still has to be delivered on the water. The skipper shortage in 2026 shows that a ferry contract alone is not enough for day-to-day reliability. Crew and fleet availability help determine whether scheduled sailing hours are actually sailed. Investments in cleaner boats, such as the new electric ferries, fit the same long-term framework. The summer 2026 timetable shows how service hours can shift in practice within such a contract period.

What the GVB ferry contract means for IJ travellers

On paper the GVB ferry contract means a longer stretch of predictable IJ connections for Amsterdam. Stricter requirements on delivered sailing hours should give travellers more certainty about planned crossings. Whether that reliability holds every day still depends on skippers, boats, and infrastructure. Long-term projects such as the Oostbrug delay until 2034 keep the ferries relevant as a fixed crossing. More news about Amsterdam ferries is on the news index.

Passengers notice the ferry contract mainly indirectly: through timetables, opening windows, and whether scheduled hours are actually sailed. The contract itself does not change overnight how you board. The period 2026–2036 does offer a more stable policy frame than short extensions. Regular crossers to Noord can take that context into account when planning peak and off-peak trips. Current routes and stops remain available via the ferry hub.

Pont is an independent travel information source and not an official GVB product. Official contract texts and performance rules remain with the City of Amsterdam and GVB. This article summarises public reporting on the ferry contract 2026–2036 for travellers. When in doubt, always check the latest GVB service information before you leave. That way you stay informed about reliability targets and service hours on Amsterdam ferries.