2 min(s) read time
IJ Tram to Strandeiland: sustainable connection for growing Amsterdam
- EIFFEL Projects
The area development of Amsterdam's East Wing – including Zeeburgereiland and IJburg – will grow from around 10,000 to over 32,000 homes by 2043. To connect these new neighborhoods with the rest of the city, tram line 26 will extend from its current terminus at Pampuslaan to Strandeiland. A direct, sustainable public transit connection to Amsterdam's city center. EIFFEL Projects manages the integrated project oversight, from planning to risk management and stakeholder coordination.
Phased construction: step by step to Strandeiland
EIFFEL Projects guides the planning and execution. We create cohesion between technical, spatial, and organizational challenges.
- 2023: tram track construction begins on Centrumeiland and construction of the Annemarie Wolff Bridge and Lee Miller Bridge.
- 2024: tram track on Strandeiland and green strips along the tram line on Haveneiland.
- 2025: work on the turning loop on Haveneiland and the track on the Annemarie Wolff Bridge. In December, tram 26 runs through to Strandeiland.
A second extension phase to Pampusbuurt is planned for 2030-2035. A permanent tram depot will also be built on Zeeburgereiland to handle the increased capacity.
More than accessibility: mobility that connects
Mobility is essential for a functioning city. That's why we focus on integrated accessibility from the start – for cars, bikes, public transit, and smart mobility. Two new high-quality public transit lines from IJburg strengthen this: one toward NS station Bijlmer ArenA (end of 2024), and one toward Weesp (end of 2025). These fast, electric bus lines are part of the Mobility Plan Zeeburgereiland and IJburg (2018–2038).
As EIFFEL Projects, we provide process oversight so vision becomes reality. This tram line is about more than accessibility: it connects neighborhoods, people, and ambitions.
Robert Kreeftmeijer - Consultant Integrale Projectbeheersing at EIFFEL Projects
A future-proof city
Amsterdam is growing. Not just in population, but in ambition. The development of Centrumeiland and Strandeiland creates an opportunity to shape city expansion sustainably and forward-thinking. The IJ Tram extension isn't an isolated measure – it's a structural intervention.
From day one, thousands of new homes get a fast, electric public transit connection to the city center. That makes mobility accessible, discourages car use, and strengthens social cohesion. Young families, seniors, and people with mobility limitations especially benefit from a direct, safe, and clean connection to the rest of the city.
The added value is tangible for the surrounding area too. The tram line integrates with green infrastructure, climate-adaptive solutions, and infrastructure that contributes to the area's identity. Strandeiland becomes more than a residential neighborhood – it becomes a hub where living, mobility, and sustainability converge.
The extension of tram line 26 is part of a larger mobility plan (2018-2038) through which Amsterdam aims to sustainably accommodate the growth of the East Wing.
Building a connected Amsterdam
With the IJ Tram extension, we're building an accessible and connected Amsterdam. From city to beach. For everyone.
As a partner in integrated project management, EIFFEL Projects brings clarity to complexity. From phasing and risk management to stakeholder management: EIFFEL Projects ensures that vision, execution, and environment remain aligned. So we're not just building infrastructure – we're building trust.
