A local environmental organisation in Copenhagen is calling for all canal tour boats in the city to switch from diesel to electric power by 2030, challenging the current contracts that allow fossil-fuel operations until 2037. The initiative, led by Miljøpunkt Indre By & Christianshavn, is gaining traction as Copenhageners increasingly question the environmental impact of the city’s popular canal cruises.
Copenhagen: most canal tours still run on diesel
Every year, thousands of tourists and residents sail through Copenhagen’s canals aboard guided boats. However, nearly all of these canal tour boats run on diesel, contributing to air pollution in a city known for its green ambitions. The two main operators, Canal Tours and Nettobådene, collectively run over 20 boats, with the vast majority still using fossil fuels.
Marianne Spang Bech, head of the environmental centre behind the campaign, criticised the lack of progress:
“We work for a green city where we are not exposed to air pollution. It’s about health, but also about what we choose to show to the world.”
Amsterdam as a model for green transition
Miljøpunkt Indre By & Christianshavn argues that Copenhagen should follow Amsterdam’s example, where all commercial canal boats are already required to be electric. The organisation proposes that the Danish capital adopt a similar goal by 2030, a timeline they consider realistic.
While the Copenhagen City Council adopted a resolution in March tasking the technical and environmental administrations with exploring how to transition to fossil-free boat operations, the Danish Maritime Authority (Søfartsstyrelsen) clarified that there are currently no national laws mandating such a shift. This legal gap limits the municipality’s ability to enforce electrification.
Copenhagen citizen proposal
To accelerate the process, the environmental group is preparing a citizens’ initiative (borgerforslag), which would require 50,000 signatures to be considered by the national parliament. Their goal is to push for a legislative change ensuring that all professional boat operations meet the same environmental standards as land-based transport.
The current contracts with Canal Tours and Nettobådene, signed in 2016 by the port authority By & Havn (owned by Copenhagen Municipality), allow diesel-powered operations until 2037. Henrik Steenstrup, property director at By & Havn, expressed regret over the lack of green requirements in the original agreements, calling it “a missed opportunity”.
High costs slow down conversion
Stromma Denmark, which owns Canal Tours, estimates that converting each open canal boat to electric power would cost around 5 million DKK (approx. €670,000). With 15 diesel-powered boats currently in operation, the transition represents a significant financial investment for operators.
Despite these challenges, environmental advocates insist that a faster green shift is essential to preserve the city’s reputation and protect public health. “Copenhagen is known for its environmental leadership,” said Spang Bech. “This is not in line with that image.”
