The Municipality of Amsterdam has officially endorsed the IJbaan Cable Car, marking a significant step forward for this innovative and sustainable transport project. At a signing ceremony on October 7, Amsterdam’s traffic alderman Egbert de Vries formalized the city’s support, signaling a new chapter for mobility in the Dutch capital.

This is the first time the municipality has taken an official position on the IJbaan Cable Car, a project that originated as a grassroots citizen initiative by the IJbaan Foundation. The cable car aims to provide a fast, green, and future-ready public transport connection across the IJ waterway, linking Amsterdam-West with Amsterdam-Noord/NDSM.

UNS’s Founder and Principal Architect, Ben van Berkel, attended the signing ceremony alongside representatives from the municipality, the IJbaan Foundation, and Arcadis, advisors on the project.

Van Berkel expressed his enthusiasm for the project: “I’m incredibly pleased that the municipality has given its official support for this extremely sustainable public transport system. Amsterdam is growing enormously, and such an 'air bridge' contributes to the development of the entire region. Transport by air also relieves the increasing pressure on traffic and the existing transport network on the ground. It is not only efficient but also fun. People are going to see and experience their city in a whole new way.”

The IJbaan Foundation emphasised the importance of the cable car for Amsterdam’s future mobility needs, “the cable car is intended to provide a better connection between West and North. This could be crucial for the future Port-City district, where car use is discouraged.”

The project’s co-initiator, Bas Dekker, highlighted the significance of the municipality’s support: “This gives the plan a huge boost. We are aiming for a fully-fledged public transport connection, not a tourist attraction. It will be a useful addition to the planned bridges and existing ferries.”

As part of the agreement, the original route of the cable car has been slightly adjusted to accommodate a planned bridge and extended to connect with the Isolatorweg metro station. The Municipality of Amsterdam will now take over part of the feasibility study, working with the Amsterdam Transport Region to estimate passenger numbers.

While the municipality’s support is a major milestone, the project’s estimated construction cost of €120 million will need to be raised from private investors. This collaboration between public and private sectors underscores the innovative approach driving the IJbaan Cable Car forward.

UNS’ initial design for the cable car features three pylons and two stations, with built-in flexibility to expand the route to include a third station in the future. The design reflects UNS’ commitment to creating adaptable, sustainable, and people-first infrastructure.

The IJbaan Cable Car is more than a transport solution—it’s a vision for a greener, more connected Amsterdam. By linking two growing residential areas and offering a new perspective on the city, the cable car promises to transform the way people move and experience their urban environment.

You can read more about the project here.

And explore more of the benefits of urban cable cars here.