BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM

Amsterdam is taking a thoughtful step to protect the animals that call this city of canals home. Following a rise in accidental drownings, including 19 cats so far this year, city councillors have approved a plan to install hundreds of small escape staircases along its canals.

Inspired by a successful initiative in Amersfoort, another Dutch city, the Amsterdam council has earmarked €100,000 (approximately $109,000) to make its famous waterways less perilous for pets and wildlife.

Borrowing a bright idea from Amersfoort

In June, Amersfoort installed 300 small wooden ladders along its canals to give animals an easy way to climb out of the water. These simple, unobtrusive, and effective ladders were designed with the needs of wildlife in mind.

Encouraged by the results, Amsterdam’s pro-animal political party, PvdD (Party for the Animals), proposed implementing a similar system. Their motion gained momentum after pointing out that €100,000 in the city’s budget had already been set aside for “wildlife exit points”, a fund that had gone unused until now.

Mapping the riskiest spots

To ensure the staircases are installed where they’re most needed, Amsterdam will work with the animal welfare organization Dierenambulance. The group will help identify canal areas where cats and other small animals frequently struggle to escape after falling in.

Zita Pels, Amsterdam’s animal welfare lead, had previously supported the concept but postponed plans due to budget limitations. With the PvdD’s push and newly freed-up funds, she and the council are moving forward.

Why the staircases matter

Cats are known to be curious and agile, but canal walls can be treacherous. “A ladder can really save their life, as long as there are enough of them,” said Maggie Ruitenberg of Katten Kenniscentrum, a feline information center. She explained that even though cats can swim, they tire quickly, especially once their fur becomes waterlogged.

Beyond animals, canal safety is a human issue too. Official statistics show that an average of 14 people drown in Amsterdam’s canals each year. Between 2014 and 2024, 142 lives were lost in the waterways, many of them foreign tourists who had fallen in while intoxicated.

Some recently renovated parts of the canal system now include ledges and safety features for humans, but the new staircases offer a simple and gentle intervention to support vulnerable animals who can’t call for help.

A small but meaningful solution

While the staircases may seem like a small fix, their impact could be significant. They represent a creative, compassionate solution that makes the city safer for all its inhabitants, four-legged and otherwise.

Amsterdam’s canals may soon be a little friendlier, thanks to a handful of tiny wooden steps and a big-hearted investment in coexisting with nature.