Amsterdam tightens further tourist measures as the city welcomes stubbornly over 20 million tourists per year
Amsterdam is taking the next step to reduce the impact of tourism. If the tourist tax increases, part of the revenue may be used to expand the property fund. This fund allows the City to buy back buildings in the city center.
The administration is now looking at going further control steps. It will introducing a permit requirement for tourist shops in the city center. This lets the city government to check in advance whether a business is reliable. With new and existing measures, Amsterdam is working towards a city where residents and tourism are in balance, now and in the future.
These measures are part of the Tourism in Balance ordinance. Additional steps details were given last month by Deputy Mayor Sofyan Mbarki (City Center Approach and Economic Affairs). “Amsterdam is already doing a lot to limit tourist overnight stays, but for now we remain above 20 million. That is why we are taking extra steps. With the new income for the property fund, we can buy back buildings for the city and make the center more livable for Amsterdammers. If we could use this money, for example, to improve certain streets, the city center would truly become less commercial and more pleasant for residents.”
Measures: 33.5% hotel tax since January
The property fund and the new permit requirement come on top of existing measures. Each year the town converts dozens of spaces above shops into homes. There is a ban on new tourist shops and a hotel and bed stop. The administration enforces strict rules for holiday rentals, and a decision has been made to halve the number of sea and river cruises that moor here.
The results of the feasibility studies on relocating the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam and on the development of the Erotic Center will be published soon. Due to the national increase in VAT on hotel stays, the total tax on hotel stays just rose to 33.5% on 1 January 2026. If this increase does not bring the number of tourist overnight stays below 20 million, Amsterdam may consider raising the tourist tax further.
Amsterdam is also exploring whether day visitors could contribute more through an entertainment tax. This tax currently applies only to certain forms of entertainment, such as events, but could be extended to other sectors such as museums and commercial attractions.
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