A group of residents of the Dutch capital have filed a lawsuit against the city, accusing it of failing to effectively address the phenomenon of overtourism. The citizens’ movement “Amsterdam has a Choice” has raised 50,000 euros from local supporters and received support from 12 other residents’ organizations, aiming to demonstrate – as they say – the ineffective management of tourism by the city government.
In 2021, the city had set a ceiling of 20 million tourist overnight stays per year. However, in 2023 the number jumped to 22.9 million, while for 2025 the forecasts speak of 23 to 26 million. “Overnight stays have been exceeding the agreed limit for three years without any substantial measures from the Municipality,” stressed resident and member of the appeal, Jasper van Dijk. However, as highlighted this year, despite the containment measures, overnight stays by visitors in Amsterdam increased by 3% in 2024, exceeding the limits set by the municipal authority.
The municipal authority has already increased the accommodation tax, limited the number of cruise ships approaching the city and has frozen the construction of new hotels. At the same time, it is attempting to “reshape” the city’s tourist profile, removing the image associated with bachelor parties, abuses, etc. However, residents argue that the situation in their daily lives remains burdened.
The issue of tourist taxation is at the center of attention. Amsterdam already has one of the highest tourist taxes in Europe (12.5%), but the plaintiffs are calling for a further increase. They argue that the additional revenue could be used to buy real estate, helping to alleviate the housing crisis, or to tackle the pollution caused by mass tourism.
