Amsterdam blocks new hotels to fight mass tourism

The Netherlands’ Amsterdam will no longer allow new hotel buildings to be built as part of its fight against mass tourism

"We want to make and keep the city liveable for residents and visitors. This means: no over-tourism, no new hotels, and no more than 20 million hotel overnight stays by tourists per year", the local government said in a statement. A new hotel in Amsterdam can only be built if another hotel closes, if the number of sleeping places doesn't increase, and if the new hotel will be better, for example more sustainable.

Key takeaways

• However, the rule does not apply to new hotels that had already secured a permit;
• Last year, the Amsterdam City Council voted to ban cruise ships and close its cruise terminal;
• Under a 2021 ordinance called “Amsterdam Tourism in Balance,” the city council is “obliged to intervene” when tourism numbers reach 18 million people.

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