News of: Friday, May 13 2005,
Inspectors of the Water management Authority of Amsterdam are going to prosecute canal tour boats that operate without a licence.
For a company to legally organize cruises for tourists in the Amsterdam canals, a licence is needed.
The Water Authority says this law exists to guarantee safety and prevents the canals from getting too busy.
The illegal boats are also a safety risk because they do not appear on the compulsory safety checks.
The Authority says it knows 41 illegal boats (25% of all canal cruise boats), and has announced that it is going to fine the companies without a licence.
Canal tours and canal cruises are among the most popular things to do by tourists visiting Amsterdam.
