Amsterdam is trying to walk a tightrope, trying on the one hand to repel the negative effects of over-tourism and on the other hand to send the message that it wants visitors who are interested in the cultural attractions of the city and not in entertainment.
In 2023, Amsterdam welcomed 23 million visitors, with Deputy Mayor Sofyan Mbarki telling Skift that Amsterdam’s goal is to welcome fewer visitors and restore balance to the city.
The Stay Away campaign in Amsterdam
The tools they have used to achieve these goals are limiting the number of cruise ships, short-term rentals and hotels. The “Stay Away” campaign implemented in the destination is typical. Its aim was to prevent tourists visiting Amsterdam, and especially the Red Light District, for the sole purpose of wild entertainment.
From 2026, fewer tourists can take cruise calls to Amsterdam after the city lowered the cap on the number of ships that can dock at its main terminal.
Also, by the end of the year, the city intends to introduce new regulations on short-term rentals.
In 2021, it limited the number of nights for each property, required hosts to obtain permission to list their property on the platforms and banned short-term rentals in certain areas. This resulted in a 30% reduction in short-term rental listings, according to the deputy mayor.
Restrictions on hotels too
Meanwhile, Amsterdam banned the development of new hotel units in April. Earlier, it had been decided to divide the city into zones in which the construction of a new hotel was either allowed or prohibited.
To date the city has 41,000 hotel rooms and 92,000 beds. With the policy of restricting new hotels, their price goes up and their availability decreases, due to increased demand from tourists.
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