Amsterdam Bans New Hotel Construction to Curb Overtourism

Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, has announced a ban on the construction of new hotels in an effort to combat mass tourism and maintain the city's livability for both residents and visitors. The new rules state that the city will not allow more than 20 million hotel overnight stays by tourists per year. New hotels can only be built if another hotel closes, the number of sleeping places does not increase, or the new hotel is more sustainable. However, the rules do not apply to new hotels that have already secured a permit.

The move is part of the city's 'Tourism in Balance' policy, which was created in 2021 after 30,000 residents called for more control over the tourism industry. Under the new rules, developers are urged to choose sites outside the city center for any new hotels. The city is also taking other measures to curb over-tourism, such as banning cannabis smoking in certain areas, closing some clubs and bars earlier, and placing new limits on canal cruises.

Why this matters: Amsterdam's efforts to tackle overtourism reflect a growing global trend of popular destinations confronting the negative impacts of excessive visitor numbers on local communities and infrastructure. The city's proactive measures serve as a potential model for other cities seeking to strike a balance between the economic benefits of tourism and the well-being of residents.

Prior to the pandemic, Amsterdam experienced 25.2 million hotel stays in 2019, and the number was even higher last year, not including Airbnb and cruise ship stays. The city has already taken other steps to discourage certain types of tourism, such as debuting an ad campaign asking young British men to stay away and banning cruise ships from docking in the city center.

In addition to the hotel construction ban, Amsterdam plans to reduce the number of river cruises that dock in the city from around 2,300 in 2023 to 1,150 by 2028, which is expected to cut the number of tourists visiting by about 271,000. The city also launched a 'Stay Away' campaign in 2022 to discourage tourism, following the city's reputation for liberal laws related to drugs, sex, and alcohol.

Deputy Mayor Sofyan Mbarki stated, "Amsterdam is a metropolis, and tourism is part of that, but we need to establish a better balance between living, working, and visiting the city. We need to take action now to prevent overtourism in the future. Amsterdam needs to remain livable for all residents while still welcoming visitors."

Key Takeaways

• Amsterdam bans new hotel construction to combat overtourism and maintain livability.
• New hotels can only be built if another hotel closes or the new one is more sustainable.
• Amsterdam limits tourist overnight stays to 20 million per year and discourages certain tourism.
• The city aims to reduce river cruise dockings by half by 2028 to cut tourist numbers.
• Amsterdam seeks to balance tourism's economic benefits with residents' well-being.