It can carry 2800 passengers, accommodates 1200 crew members and from a distance looks more like an apartment building than a cruise ship. They rarely see them this big in the IJmondhaven. That is why the Valiant Lady of British billionaire Richard Branson is the crowd puller of IJmuiden these days.
Although there are no tourists on board, as the ship is used for television recordings, the presence of this floating flat symbolizes the return of wanderlust. “The momentum is back,” says Ton van der Scheer, advisor to the IJmond business association. “There are a number of things against it, such as inflation and the war, but in general you can say that everyone is ready again. You notice that in everything and that is a nice observation. This ship (the Valiant Lady) is empty, but ships with tourists will soon follow.”
Tourist trekkers
In most cases, these travelers leave for Amsterdam. Van der Scheer is committed to keeping tourists in the IJmond. “We have a lot to offer. To start with, we have the largest sea lock in the world. We also have beautiful beaches and dunes. And for enthusiasts there is the Bazaar in Beverwijk. I understand that you are not going to keep all tourists here, that’s why Amsterdam’s appeal is too great, but part of it is.”
From an economic point of view, the IJmond could benefit more from Amsterdam’s magnetic effect. But then the connection with the capital must be improved. Van der Scheer is a strong supporter of the return of a fast boat connection across the North Sea Canal. “In a touristic sense, there is no better solution than this one. And who knows, maybe this is the time, with all the corona conditions behind us, to make a start.”
Fast Flying Ferry: from Velsen to Amsterdam in 27 minutes
From 2002 to the end of 2013, the so-called Fast Flying Ferry sailed between Amsterdam Central and Velsen. The connection carried out by Connexxion on behalf of the province of Noord-Holland was known as line 419. Hydrofoils were used (see photo). The Fast Flying Ferry bridged the distance between the capital and Velsen within half an hour. Because there have been several accidents – in most cases with injuries – the connection came under discussion.
After an investigation, the Dutch Safety Board concluded that the safety of the passengers was at risk due to the high speed and light weight of the boats. The maximum speed was then reduced from 65 kilometers to 50 kilometers per hour. As a result, the ‘crossing’ took longer. As a result, the boats also sail less often. Since then, fewer travelers have used the service, which turned out to be no longer profitable and was therefore discontinued.