Extinction Rebellion Targets Cruise Ship in Amsterdam Protest

On July 26, environmental activists from Extinction Rebellion launched a protest at the Port of Amsterdam, aiming to disrupt the docking of the Malta-registered cruise ship Celebrity Eclipse.

Around 4:30 a.m. local time, roughly thirty Dutch members of the group took to the water in small boats, canoes, and inflatables, surrounding the cruise ship as it approached the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam. The demonstration was intended to draw attention to what the group describes as the cruise industry’s damaging impact on the environment, human health, and the climate. Protesters referred to cruise vessels as “floating environmental disasters” and demanded a ban on their operation in Dutch waters.

The demonstration was short-lived, lasting under two hours before being halted by police intervention. Authorities dispatched patrol boats to disperse the protesters and clear a path, allowing Celebrity Eclipse to dock without further incident.

Local media reported that five individuals were arrested during the operation, with two of them later released. The protest is the latest in a string of actions targeting the environmental footprint of cruise tourism in Europe.