What is the latest cost estimate for the Oostbrug across the IJ?

A provisional estimate disclosed in June 2026 puts the project at roughly €650–850 million. The earlier estimate was around €300–340 million. The final cost has not been set because the design, risks and delivery plan are still being developed.

Why does Amsterdam's opposition want an inquiry and emergency debate?

Het Parool reports that the substantially higher estimate was known to the former transport alderman before the municipal election, while the city council received the figures later. Seven opposition parties therefore want an inquiry into how the council was informed. The VVD has also requested an emergency debate.

When is the Oostbrug supposed to open?

The city still presents 2031 as a possible construction start, followed by completion during the period up to 2034. That timetable remains uncertain because it depends on political decisions, procedures, available labour and materials, and financial feasibility.

What will the Oostbrug mean for Amsterdam's ferries?

Until the bridge is complete, the IJ ferries remain essential for cyclists and pedestrians travelling between Amsterdam Noord and the rest of the city. The Oostbrug could eventually reduce pressure on the eastern side, but it will not directly replace the ferry links at Centraal Station or NDSM.

Oostbrug across the IJ may cost €850 million as opposition demands inquiry and emergency debate

The Oostbrug across the IJ is now estimated at €650–850 million. Seven opposition parties want an inquiry into when the figures were shared, while the VVD has requested an emergency debate.

The Oostbrug across the IJ may cost not roughly €300 million but €650–850 million, according to the latest provisional estimate. A political dispute was added on 11 August 2026, when Het Parool reported that former transport alderman Melanie van der Horst knew about the much higher figures before the municipal election. According to the newspaper, Amsterdam's city council only received those specific numbers after the election. Seven opposition parties now want a thorough inquiry into how the information was handled, and the VVD has requested an emergency debate. For passengers who depend on the Amsterdam ferries every day, the key point is that both the feasibility and timetable of the fixed crossing face renewed uncertainty.

Cost surge for the Oostbrug across the IJ

The scale of the increase became visible in Amsterdam's city council in June. An earlier estimate of roughly €300–340 million for the cycling and walking bridge was followed by a new range of €650–850 million. The current mobility alderman, Elise Moeskops, stressed at the time that this was an interim figure based on reference projects and that a definitive estimate would follow. That qualification matters because the amount can still change as the project is developed and is not yet an approved construction budget. Even so, the upper end is more than twice the sum for which the city and the Amsterdam Transport Authority previously believed they had secured funding.

Why opposition parties want an inquiry and emergency debate

The new development is not only about the amount but also about when the city administration disclosed it. Het Parool reports that Van der Horst knew about the much higher estimate before the election, while the city council did not receive the figures at that point. Seven opposition parties want an investigation into how that decision was made and whether councillors were informed fully and on time. The VVD has separately requested an emergency debate, but at publication time no date or political outcome has been announced. It is therefore too early to say that the Oostbrug has been cancelled, delayed again or given a new funding package.

Official timetable still points to 2034

The city's project page still presents 2031 as a possible start of construction, with work continuing until 2034. Before that can happen, studies covering traffic, noise, nature, quality of life and shipping must be completed. The council is expected to decide in spring 2027 on the main requirements, technical viability and financial feasibility. Procurement, the final design, permits and construction preparation would then still have to follow. Our existing background article on the Oostbrug delay shows how the timetable has already moved before, which makes 2034 an earliest plausible outcome rather than a guaranteed opening date.

What the bridge and higher estimate mean for ferries

Without a fixed crossing, ferries remain the everyday connection for large numbers of cyclists and pedestrians travelling to and from Amsterdam Noord. The Oostbrug is planned between Azartplein on KNSM Island and Johan van Hasseltweg in Noord, so it mainly serves the eastern side of the city. Amsterdam expects roughly 20,000 to 25,000 daily users in the longer term, which could absorb some of the growing demand currently placed on the ferries. It would not directly replace the popular links at Centraal Station or towards NDSM because those passengers have different origins and destinations. A reliable fleet, enough qualified skippers and up-to-date travel information will therefore remain necessary even after a possible opening.

Ferry investment remains necessary during the long lead time

The argument over hundreds of millions for the bridge does not alter the immediate capacity problem on the IJ. In March 2026 the Amsterdam Transport Authority allocated more than €62 million for measures including new ferries, hybrid engines and charging infrastructure, precisely because the bridge remains years away. The ongoing electric ferry tender and the demand shown in the ferry statistics underline that the water connection cannot be neglected while Amsterdam decides on the fixed link. If the Oostbrug develops a new funding gap, politicians will have to decide how to divide the bill, but no public decision currently removes funding from the ferries. Passengers should therefore not expect an immediate timetable change as a direct result of the requested inquiry or emergency debate.

What ferry passengers should watch next

The next firm milestones are the political discussion about the disclosure of the estimate and the city's project decision planned for 2027. Until then, the new range is a serious warning but not a final price or a decision to stop. Follow the news index for later decisions on the budget, design and timetable, and check live departures before travelling. Today's Oostbrug dispute does not change IJ ferry departure times, but it may affect how long Amsterdam remains dependent on additional ferry capacity. Passengers can use the ferry apps to plan a crossing and should still allow for ordinary disruption, crowding and staff shortages.

Pont is not an official GVB product and is not affiliated with the City of Amsterdam. We summarise public reporting by Het Parool, NH Nieuws and AT5 alongside the city's project information to explain the implications for ferry passengers. The €650–850 million range is an interim estimate, not an approved final budget. At publication time, neither the requested inquiry nor the emergency debate has resulted in a decision on construction or scheduling. Always check current GVB departures before travelling because political developments around the Oostbrug are not live travel information.