Amsterdam ferries
Amsterdam has a network of free passenger ferries across the IJ, plus three more across the Noordzeekanaal outside the city. Here they all are: which ferry goes where, how often it runs, how long the crossing takes and how late it sails. Every crossing has live departure times and the full timetable.
Every Amsterdam ferry
The times below come from the published GVB timetable. Open a crossing for live departures and the first and last ferry on each day of the week.
| Line | Crossing | How often | Takes | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Azartplein → Zamenhofstraat Zamenhofstraat → Azartplein | Every 15 min (weekend 20 min) | 6 min | 06:22 to 23:30 |
| F2 | Centraal Station → IJplein IJplein → Centraal Station | Every 6 min | 5 min | 06:26 to 23:56 |
| F3 | Centraal Station → Buiksloterweg Buiksloterweg → Centraal Station | Every 4 min | 5 min | Around the clock |
| F4 | Centraal Station → NDSM NDSM → Centraal Station | Every 15 min (weekend 10 min) | 14 min | 06:30 to 02:00Friday and Saturday to 03:30 |
| F6 | Pontsteiger → Distelweg Distelweg → Pontsteiger | Every 15 min | 6 min | 06:30 to 22:52 |
| F7 | NDSM → Pontsteiger Pontsteiger → NDSM | Every 10 min | 6 min | 06:20 to 23:50 |
| F9 | Sporenburg → Zeeburgereiland Zeeburgereiland → Sporenburg | Every 20 min | 8 min | 07:00 to 18:50 |
| F20 | Hempontplein → Zaandam Zaandam → HempontpleinHempont | Every 20 min | 7 min | Around the clock |
| F21 | Assendelft → Spaarndam Spaarndam → AssendelftBuitenhuizerpont · Spaarnwoude | Every 20 min | 7 min | Around the clock |
| F22 | Velsen Noord → Velsen Zuid Velsen Zuid → Velsen NoordVelserpont · IJmuiden | Every 10 min (weekend 20 min) | 7 min | Around the clock |
Are the Amsterdam ferries free?
Yes. The GVB ferries across the IJ are free for pedestrians and cyclists. There is no ticket, no OV-chipkaart and no account: you simply walk or cycle aboard. The three ferries across the Noordzeekanaal, outside the city, are free too.
Do the ferries run at night?
Some do. The ferry between Centraal Station and Buiksloterweg runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The ferry to NDSM runs deep into the night and latest on Friday and Saturday. The smaller crossings stop earlier in the evening. The table above gives the hours for each one, and every crossing page lists the first and last ferry for each day of the week.
Can you take a bike on the ferry?
Yes, and it costs nothing extra. The ferries across the IJ exist for pedestrians and cyclists. Ride aboard, park your bike in the marked area and ride off at the other side. At peak times, especially the morning and evening rush at Buiksloterweg and NDSM, you may have to wait for the next sailing.
Where do the ferries leave from?
The busiest ferries leave from behind Amsterdam Centraal, on the IJ side of the station, for Buiksloterweg, IJplein and the NDSM-werf. Further west are the Pontsteiger in the Houthavens and the Distelweg in Amsterdam-Noord, with a ferry between them and another from the Pontsteiger to NDSM. In the east, ferries run between Azartplein and Zamenhofstraat and between Sporenburg and Zeeburgereiland.
The ferries outside Amsterdam
Three more ferries cross the Noordzeekanaal. They are not run by GVB but they are just as free. The Hempont links the Hempontplein to Zaandam and runs around the clock. The Buitenhuizerpont runs between Assendelft and Spaarndam, by the Spaarnwoude recreation area. And the Velserpont runs between Velsen-Noord and Velsen-Zuid, near IJmuiden. All three are in the table above.
Every ferry on the map
Pontueel shows every ferry live on the map, with a countdown to the next sailing. Pick your dock and direction and see at a glance when to leave.
Open the map with live ferry timesFrequently asked questions about Amsterdam's ferries
- How many ferries does Amsterdam have?
- Seven free GVB ferries run across the city, linking Centraal Station, Buiksloterweg, IJplein, the NDSM-werf, the Pontsteiger, Distelweg, Azartplein, Zamenhofstraat, Sporenburg and Zeeburgereiland. Three more cross the Noordzeekanaal outside the city: the Hempont, the Buitenhuizerpont and the Velserpont.
- Do you have to pay for the ferry in Amsterdam?
- No. The ferries across the IJ are free for pedestrians and cyclists. You need no ticket, no OV-chipkaart and no account.
- Is the Amsterdam ferry 24 hours?
- The ferry between Centraal Station and Buiksloterweg runs 24 hours a day, every day. The others have a first and a last sailing, listed per crossing in the table above and on every ferry page.
- Does the Amsterdam ferry run today?
- The ferries across the IJ run every day of the week, weekends and public holidays included. Strikes and disruptions are flagged with the departure times.
- Can you take a bicycle on the Amsterdam ferry?
- Yes, at no extra cost. The ferries across the IJ are meant for pedestrians and cyclists; cars cannot board.
- Which ferry goes to the NDSM-werf?
- Two ferries serve the NDSM-werf: one from Amsterdam Centraal Station and one from the Pontsteiger in the Houthavens. The table above gives the hours and the crossing time for both.
Timetable from GVB via OVapi (NDOV Loket). Pontueel is not an official GVB app.