In another attempt to crack down on overtourism, Amsterdam authorities are banning the construction of new hotels in the Dutch capital.
The policy, announced on Wednesday, will only allow new hotels in a one-in, one-out system. A new hotel can only be built if another hotel closes. The new hotel must not exceed the number of beds of the previous hotel and must be a “better” hotel with more modern and sustainable features, according to a city release.
“Amsterdam is saying ‘no’ to new hotels,” reads a translation of a statement from city officials. “We want to create and maintain a city that is a great place to live for residents and visitors.”
The initiative follows efforts to limit the flow of tourists to the city of Amsterdam, known for its lenient drug policies, sex industry and liberal party scene.
In Amsterdam, people can buy up to 5 grams of cannabis from coffee shops without being prosecuted. For years, city officials have been trying to crack down on “nuisance” tourists and the hordes of tourists drawn to the city with the promise of a night of debauchery.
In June 2023, the city council passed the “Amsterdam Tourism Balance” policy, setting maximum numbers for overnight stays and day trips in the city, and capping the number of annual visitors at 20 million people per year. Wednesday’s guidance re-strengthens that regulation. According to the city, there were 20,665,000 hotel nights in 2023.
“We are taking further measures to prevent the number of hotel nights from increasing further,” the city said in a statement.
That same year, the city cracked down on public marijuana smoking on the streets and restricted the hours of operation of certain restaurants and sex establishments, in an effort to curb rowdy crowds in red-light districts and give residents a better night’s sleep. did.
The City of Amsterdam has also launched a ‘Stay Away’ campaign aimed directly at British men aged 18 to 35. This group frequently travels to Amsterdam for “stag” and bachelor parties, which residents claim is destructive.
Also in 2023, city officials adopted a proposal to relocate the cruise ship terminal. In addition to addressing pollution concerns, the move was aimed at preventing tourists from flooding into the city center at anchorage.
It’s unclear how the city plans to implement the new hotel construction policy. New hotels already under construction may be added in the future, according to the release. This includes 26 hotels with existing permits.
