Watertaxi Rotterdam

What Watertaxi Rotterdam does

Watertaxi Rotterdam operates an on-demand water taxi and scheduled ferry network across 50 docking locations in Rotterdam and Schiedam, serving approximately 700,000 passengers annually. The company runs a fleet of 20 vessels ranging from classic fast diesel-powered taxis (MSTX 6, MSTX 7-15) capable of 55 km/h, to electric ferries (MSTX 31-36) carrying 25-40 passengers, to the pioneering hydrogen-powered MSTX 22 — the first hydrogen small passenger vessel in the Netherlands. The network is described as unique in Europe and operates under public-service contracts with Gemeente Rotterdam, Havenbedrijf Rotterdam, and Metropoolregio Rotterdam Den Haag (MRDH). The company aims for a fully zero-emission fleet by 2030, supported by a €1.5M European subsidy awarded in 2024.

The business model combines multiple revenue streams: zone-based on-demand water taxi fares (€5.25–€15 per person), scheduled ferry services (€3 per trip on RDM shuttle), private boat tours priced per group (€60–€320 for 15-120 minutes), corporate voucher sales with 10% bulk discounts, and business account services with invoiced billing. Distribution occurs through a proprietary iOS/Android app developed by YipYip, the company website, telephone booking, a physical information desk at Wilhelminapier, and integration with five major Dutch travel platforms (9292, RET, NS, Google Maps, Moves). Customer segments span business commuters, tourists, Rotterdam residents, sports event attendees (Feyenoord stadium shuttles), and education groups.

Operational infrastructure includes 190 solar panels at the base station generating 50,000 kWh annually, green energy procurement via Eneco's Ecostroom, radar-equipped vessels for fog operations, and a skipper pool of approximately 100 qualified captains managed through Schipperscentrale Rotterdam. The company coordinates operations through 20 dispatch centralists. Distinct from a typical tech startup, Watertaxi Rotterdam is a capital-intensive, infrastructure-anchored public transport operator with a strong sustainability mandate and EU funding backing its fleet transition.

Name

Watertaxi Rotterdam

Legal name

Watertaxi Rotterdam BV

Website

https://watertaxirotterdam.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Watertaxi Rotterdam operates an on-demand water taxi and ferry network across 50 stops in Rotterdam and Schiedam, serving 700,000 passengers annually with a 20-vessel fleet. The company runs under public-service contracts with municipal authorities and is transitioning to a fully zero-emission electric and hydrogen fleet by 2030.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Passenger Transport

NAICS

Coastal and Great Lakes Passenger Transportation (483114), Inland Water Passenger Transportation (483212), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Ferry & Passenger Water Transport Operators (TLAFAAAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Taxi Services (On-Demand/Point-to-Point) (THAIAJAD), Harbor & Water Taxi Passenger Services (THAEAGAF), Urban/Commuter Ferry Operators (Harbor/Water Taxi) (TLAFALAB)

Keywords

• Water taxi services
• Passenger ferry transport
• Boat tours
• Sustainable maritime transport
• On-demand water transport

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. On-demand Water Taxi Rides: Passengers pay per ride based on zone tariffs (1, 2, or 3 zones crossed). Children up to 12 years receive half price. Rides can be booked via app, website, or phone, with payment accepted via app, PIN, or credit card. Business clients can pay on account with company registration.
2. Boat Tours (Rondvaarten): Private boat tours priced per group (not per person) with durations from 15 to 120 minutes. Pricing ranges from €60 (15 min) to €320 (120 min), regardless of group size (max 12 passengers). Includes city harbor tours and special occasion trips.
3. Scheduled Ferry Services: Six fixed ferry routes with regular departure schedules. Standard fare is €3 per person on peak-hour RDM shuttle service. Ferries are integrated into public transport systems.
4. Voucher Sales: Gift vouchers sold for use as payment on water taxi rides. Volume discount of 10% applies for purchases of 100 or more vouchers. Target market includes business clients and corporate gift giving.
5. Business Account Services: Corporate clients who regularly use the service can register as account customers, enabling invoiced billing. Companies receive vouchers with attractive discounts for larger ticket quantities and special pricing for staff shuttle services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Watertaxi Rotterdam operates an on-demand water taxi and ferry transport network serving 50 stops in Rotterdam and Schiedam, transporting approximately 700,000 passengers annually. Core offerings include on-demand water taxi rides (per-person zone-based pricing), six scheduled ferry routes, and customizable private boat tours. Services are bookable via mobile app, website, phone, or on-site at the Wilhelminapier information desk, with a fleet of 20 vessels including electric, hydrogen, and diesel-powered boats.

Product overview

Watertaxi Rotterdam operates a comprehensive water transport network in Rotterdam and Schiedam, unique in Europe, serving 700,000 passengers annually across 50 stops. The core offerings consist of: (1) Watertaxivervoer - on-demand water taxi transport; (2) Rondvaarten - customizable boat tours; and (3) Veerdiensten - six fixed ferry routes. Services are accessible via the Watertaxi mobile app (iOS/Android), website, or phone booking. The fleet comprises 20 boats including fast diesel-powered water taxis (MSTX 6, MSTX 7-15), electric boats (MSTX 31-36), and the pioneering hydrogen-powered MSTX 22. The company aims for a fully emission-free fleet by 2030.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Watertaxi Transport (Watertaxivervoer) On-demand water taxi service transporting passengers to 50 stops in Rotterdam and Schiedam, operating faster than road transport. Bookable via app, website, or phone with PIN/credit card payment on board. Zone-based pricing from €5.25 per person.
• Boat Tours (Rondvaarten) Customizable boat tours where passengers determine duration (15-120 minutes) and route with the captain. Maximum 12 passengers per tour. Pricing ranges from €60 (15 min) to €320 (120 min) per group. Special trips available for photography, film, and wedding reports.
• Scheduled Ferry Services (Veerdiensten) Six fixed ferry routes in Rotterdam: RDM/Heijplaat - Marconistraat/M4H, Charloisse Hoofd - Katendrechtse Hoofd, Plantagelaan - Piekstraat, Centrum - Kop van Zuid/HNY, Circle Line (4 stops), and Park Line (3 stops). Integrated into public transport apps (9292, RET, NS, Google Maps).
• Watertaxi Mobile App Mobile application for iOS and Android enabling ride booking, modification/cancellation up to 15 minutes before departure, live water taxi tracking from 5 minutes before arrival, and push notifications for travel updates. Developed by YipYip.
• Corporate Voucher System and Business Accounts Vouchers accepted as payment on board, with 10% discount for purchases of 100 or more vouchers. Companies with frequent use can register as account customers enabling on-account billing with KVK registration. Special pricing for staff shuttle services.
• Day Ticket (Dagkaart) Hop-on-hop-off day ticket at €12.50 per person (children up to 12 years half price) valid on all three weekend ferry routes: Centrumlijn, Cirkellijn, and Parklijn. Unlimited boarding/disembarking for the day.
• MSTX 22 Hydrogen Water Taxi Green hydrogen-powered water taxi, the Dutch premiere for small passenger vessels. Developed by SWIM consortium and introduced in 2022 as part of the fleet sustainability transition.

Quantifiable outcome

• 700,000 passengers transported annually across 50 stops
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SWIM-consortium (Enviu, Flying Fish, ZEPP.solutions)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Collaborative development partnership for hydrogen-powered water taxi technology. Watertaxi Rotterdam partnered with Enviu (Rotterdam venture studio), Flying Fish and ZEPP.solutions (Delft maritime innovation firms) to develop MSTX 22, the Netherlands' first hydrogen-powered small passenger vessel. The consortium is also working on hydrogen refueling infrastructure at Rotterdam port.
• Eneco (Ecostroom)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEneco provides green energy for charging Watertaxi's electric fleet through their Ecostroom product, sourced exclusively from wind and solar power. This partnership enables the company's sustainability goals for electric ferry operations.
• Schipperscentrale RotterdamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive staffing partnership providing approximately 100 experienced skippers for water taxi operations. Many skippers also work on tugs, barges, and patrol boats, qualified to navigate the busy Nieuwe Maas river. Recruitment managed through Schipperscentrale for captain positions.
• 9292, Moves, RET, NS, Google MapsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPublic transit app partnerships integrating Watertaxi ferry schedules and stop information into major Dutch travel planning applications, enabling multimodal journey planning.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Rederij De Pannenkoek: Smaller Dutch water taxi and tour operator in Rotterdam-region waterways offering harbor tours and ad-hoc water transport. Competes in overlapping geography but at smaller scale and without the scheduled ferry mandate.

Direct peers

• Hong Kong Star Ferry: Iconic harbor-crossing passenger ferry operator between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Comparable in providing high-frequency scheduled short-route passenger service on a metropolitan waterway with both commuter and tourist demand.
• Stern und Kreis Schiffahrt: Berlin's leading passenger shipping company operating scheduled ferry and tour services on the Spree and Havel rivers. Comparable European urban water transport operator combining scheduled routes, tour boats, and event charters.
• NYC Ferry: Operator of commuter ferry services across New York City's East River and Hudson, with publicly subsidized routes, branded vessels, and app-based ticketing — analogous public-private hybrid urban water transit model.
• Uber Boats by Thames Clippers: London's river bus operator running scheduled and on-demand passenger services on the Thames. Most directly comparable peer — urban European water transit network with multi-stop service, app booking, and integration into the city's multimodal transit ecosystem.
• Berliner Fähren (BVG): Municipal ferry operator within Berlin's public transit network, running yellow water buses across the Spree. Directly comparable as publicly contracted urban passenger ferry network integrated with broader transit ticketing.
• Venice Taxi Boat Cooperative (Coop. San Marco Alilaguna): Cooperative water taxi and passenger ferry operator in Venice lagoon serving multiple stops with scheduled and on-demand services. Comparable European on-demand urban water transport with strong tourist and commuter demand.

Regional players

• DDSG Blue Danube: Vienna-based passenger shipping operator on the Danube offering scheduled ferry, commuter, and sightseeing services. Comparable European urban water transport business, though Vienna's geography is broader river rather than dense harbor network.
• HAVAG Hallesche Verkehrs-AG: Public transit operator in Halle, Germany running a small urban ferry across the Saale river as part of its multimodal network. Comparable as a municipal-contracted passenger ferry integrated with regional ticketing, though smaller scale.

Broad incumbents

• Sydney Ferries (Transport for NSW): Government-contracted passenger ferry network in Sydney Harbour. Comparable as a publicly subsidized urban ferry system, though at much larger scale and integrated with broader state-level transit planning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WatertaxiR
• Facebookfacebook.com/watertaxirotterdambv
• Instagraminstagram.com/watertaxi_rotterdam
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/watertaxirotterdam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Watertaxi Rotterdam