Amsterdam is the busiest river cruise port in Europe. Rhine, Moselle and tulip-season itineraries from Viking, AmaWaterways, Avalon, Uniworld, Scenic, Emerald, Tauck and Riviera all start, end or call here. Where exactly your ship ties up makes a real difference to your day: some berths put you three minutes from Amsterdam Centraal station, while others leave you in a working harbour five kilometres west of the city.
This guide covers every official river cruise mooring in Amsterdam, based on berth data published by Cruise Port Amsterdam. For each location you will find the address, how to reach the city centre, and what to expect when you step off the gangway.
Amsterdam River Cruise Docks at a Glance
| Dock | Address | Berths | Getting to the city |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA) | Piet Heinkade 27 | 4 river berths (LP1–LP4) | 10-minute walk to Centraal, tram 26 at the door |
| De Ruijterkade Oost | De Ruijterkade 153 | 4 berths (IJRO 1–4) | Directly behind Centraal station |
| De Ruijterkade West | De Ruijterkade 5 | 5 berths (IJRW 2–6) | Directly behind Centraal, west side |
| Westerdoksdijk | Westerdoksdijk 40 | 1 double berth | 15-minute walk to Centraal, Jordaan nearby |
| Coenhaven | Westerhoofd 1 | 2 double berths | Working harbour, shuttle or taxi required |
| Tolhuis | Buiksloterweg 7 | 2 berths (bike & barge ships) | 3-minute free ferry to Centraal |
| Minervahaven | Minervahavenweg 17 | 2 passenger piers (bike & barge ships) | Houthavens district, bus or taxi |
What to Expect at Each Mooring
Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA)
The PTA at Piet Heinkade 27 is the same building that handles ocean ships, and it reserves four dedicated river berths (LP1 to LP4, each taking two 135-metre ships). Every berth has shore power, so ships switch off their generators here. Tram 26 stops in front of the terminal and the walk along the IJ waterfront to Amsterdam Centraal takes about ten minutes, passing the Muziekgebouw concert hall next door.
De Ruijterkade Oost
This quay sits directly behind Centraal station on the IJ side, at De Ruijterkade 153. Walk through the station passage and you are on the Damrak in five minutes; no other river cruise berth in Europe puts you closer to a major city centre. One quirk to know: the two easternmost berths accept no arrivals or departures between 09:00 and 22:00 because of ferry traffic, so ships using them typically arrive late in the evening or before breakfast.
De Ruijterkade West
The western continuation of the same quay, at De Ruijterkade 5, holds five berths. The free IJ ferries to Amsterdam-Noord leave from the landing beside it, and the station is directly overhead. Most berths here provide shore power.
Westerdoksdijk
A single double-length berth at Westerdoksdijk 40, on the western edge of the city centre. It carries the heaviest shore power connection of any Amsterdam river berth (2x 800A), so larger premium ships often moor here. The Jordaan neighbourhood is a ten-minute walk and Centraal about fifteen. No arrivals or departures are allowed between 23:00 and 06:00.
Coenhaven
Coenhaven, at Westerhoofd 1, is a working harbour used when the central berths are full. There is no shore power and no walking route into town worth taking. Cruise lines run shuttle buses on Coenhaven days, and a taxi to Dam Square takes about fifteen minutes. If your daily programme names Coenhaven, plan your day around the shuttle timetable.
Tolhuis
Two berths on the north bank of the IJ at Buiksloterweg 7, reserved for bike and barge ships. The free Buiksloterweg passenger ferry crosses to Centraal in three minutes and runs around the clock. The A’DAM Lookout tower and the EYE Film Museum are a five-minute walk along the bank.
Minervahaven
The Minervahaven passenger piers at Minervahavenweg 17, in the Houthavens docklands, also serve bike and barge ships only. There is no shore power. Bus 48 connects to Centraal, and the REM Eiland restaurant, a former pirate broadcasting platform, stands in the water nearby.
Which Dock Will My Ship Use
Berths are assigned by Cruise Port Amsterdam through a central reservation system, so the same cruise line can moor at different quays on different dates. Your ship’s daily programme, usually published the evening before arrival, names the exact mooring. When every central berth is taken, some ships dock in Zaandam instead; the train from Zaandam station reaches Amsterdam Centraal in twelve minutes.
Amsterdam requires a Green Award certificate for all river cruise berths, and shore power is billed through a central system. In practice this means newer, cleaner ships get priority on the central quays.
Things to Do Near the River Cruise Docks
From the PTA, De Ruijterkade and Westerdoksdijk berths you can reach almost everything in the historic centre on foot. On embarkation or disembarkation day most passengers have a free morning or afternoon, which is enough for one museum or a canal boat tour if you book ahead.
- Major museums sell out days ahead in season. Book skip-the-line tickets for the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and canal cruises on Tiqets.
- For guided shore days, browse group and private excursions in Amsterdam on GetYourGuide, including Keukenhof, Zaanse Schans windmills and countryside tours.
- See our full guide to things to do in Amsterdam and how to book sold-out attractions from your ship.
Pre- and Post-Cruise Hotels
If you add hotel nights before or after your river cruise, stay near Centraal station or the IJ waterfront: every central river berth is within suitcase-wheeling distance. The DoubleTree by Hilton Centraal Station stands two minutes from the De Ruijterkade Oost quay, the Mövenpick Amsterdam City Centre shares its quay with the PTA river berths, and art’otel Amsterdam faces the Westerdoksdijk mooring across the water.
Full recommendations by budget: where to stay in Amsterdam.
River Cruise or Ocean Cruise
This page covers river cruise moorings. Ocean-going cruise ships use the main PTA terminal building or the Felison Cruise Terminal in IJmuiden. For ocean sailings, see the Amsterdam cruise ship schedule and the Amsterdam cruise port guide.
FAQ — Amsterdam River Cruise Docks
Where do Viking river ships dock in Amsterdam
Viking and the other major river lines most often use the PTA river berths or De Ruijterkade, but assignments change per call. The daily programme on board confirms the exact quay.
Can I walk from the dock to the city centre
From De Ruijterkade, the PTA and Westerdoksdijk, yes, within fifteen minutes. From Tolhuis you take the free three-minute ferry. Coenhaven and Minervahaven need a shuttle, bus or taxi.
Is there somewhere to store luggage
On turnaround days your ship holds luggage before check-in and after check-out. Amsterdam Centraal also has self-service lockers near platform 2 if you arrive early by train.
Why is my ship docking in Zaandam
Amsterdam’s berths are fully booked on peak days, and overflow ships moor at the Zaandam quay in Zaanstad. The train into Amsterdam takes twelve minutes, and Zaandam’s own centre, with the Zaanse Schans windmills nearby, is worth an hour of your time.
Berth data: Cruise Port Amsterdam, river cruise berth information. Last updated 3 July 2026. Always confirm your mooring with your cruise line.