In Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, a new hotel cannot be opened anymore. According to the „Balanced Tourism Ordinance,“ the city council has declared the entire city a „restricted zone“ for hotels. To meet the demands of the city’s residents, the municipality will now limit the number of tourists staying in Amsterdam to 20 million per year. The city administration of Amsterdam aims to reduce the number of visitors, stating that the influx of tourists negatively affects both the historical structure of the city and the daily life of its residents. By doing so, the municipality aims to minimize the release of harmful elements in the city center and create a more livable city. Last year, according to official figures, 20,665,000 tourists stayed in Amsterdam. Furthermore, this number does not include vacation rentals, bed and breakfast accommodations, and overnight stays on ships. The city council decided to tighten hotel policies, stating that the current situation makes Amsterdam less livable for residents and visitors. No new licenses will be issued for hotels throughout Amsterdam, and the number of beds in the city will not exceed 20 million. A new hotel can only be permitted if another hotel closes and the number of beds decreases. The new hotel must be located outside the city center and exhibit features such as modernization or sustainability. The construction of some hotels that previously received building permits will continue in the city. However, these establishments will be subject to strict controls under the overnight project initiated by the city of Amsterdam in 2017. As a result of these controls, it was found that only three establishments that were previously granted a hotel license met the necessary requirements. Amsterdam’s plan to reduce mass tourism is based on the demands of the city’s population. In line with this demand, the city of Amsterdam has developed the „Balanced Tourism Ordinance.“ According to the ordinance, cruise ships were prohibited from docking in the center of Amsterdam last year to protect the city and its residents from the damages of excessive tourism. It was decided to relocate the cruise terminal near the main train station outside the city. Additionally, the Amsterdam city administration, which restricted public buses‘ access to the city center, also increased the tourist tax for hotel guests and cruise passengers to reduce the number of tourists.
