{"id":14899,"date":"2025-10-05T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-05T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/holistic.news\/en\/?p=14899"},"modified":"2025-10-03T12:01:32","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T10:01:32","slug":"tourism-in-amsterdam-locals-sue-over-overtourism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/holistic.news\/en\/tourism-in-amsterdam-locals-sue-over-overtourism\/","title":{"rendered":"Amsterdam at breaking point: residents take overtourism to court"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Tourism is slipping out of control<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

A flood of tourists is becoming a growing problem in many countries. Nature suffers, monuments deteriorate, and residents are pushed out of their neighbourhoods. What is more, the economy shifts strictly towards tourism, so other sectors lose importance. It is no surprise that more and more locals have had enough \u2014 and would rather not host visitors at all<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amsterdam illustrates the problem. For several years residents have been asking the city authorities for curbs. In 2021 limits were even introduced \u2014 a maximum of 20 million overnight stays, a ban on building new hotels \u2014 and the number of river and sea cruises was halved. Yet the situation has not improved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The blame lies with the administration. Despite promises, in 2024 the bed capacity increased by almost 3 million places. Residents could not take it any longer \u2014 they raised \u20ac50,000 and took the city authorities to court<\/strong>. What do they want to achieve?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Dutch have a plan for tourism in Amsterdam<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Residents of the Dutch capital are demanding another rise in the tourist tax \u2014 even though it is already the highest such tax in the world at 12.5 percent<\/strong>. They want the additional revenue to be allocated to one of two goals they have proposed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAmsterdam could use the extra income from an increased tourist tax to buy up property to help address the housing shortage, or to clean up the city\u2019s streets, which are partly a mess because of mass tourism,\u201d <\/em>explains Jasper van Dijk, one of the initiators, quoted by the Dutch outlet Reformatorisch Dagblad<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

City councillor Sofyan Mbarki also weighed in. He recalled that the city had already taken a number of steps \u2014 reducing the number of cruises, raising the tourist tax and halting the construction of new hotels. Even so, he announced another move: a ban on renting accommodation in places where tourist pressure is greatest<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although at first glance everything may seem simple, the issue is far more complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnfortunately, there is no single button we can press to solve everything. Tourism requires patience and long-term action,\u201d<\/em> Mbarki concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read Why Travel Has Become a Quest for Social Status<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trouble in Venice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Excessive tourism also affects Venice. Two years ago the local authorities introduced an entrance fee to the city<\/strong> to reduce visitor numbers. Until now it has been \u20ac5 or \u20ac10 depending on when the fee was paid \u2014 the earlier a tourist bought a ticket, the less they paid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next year the Venetian authorities will continue to apply this measure. Fees will be required between 8:30 and 16:00 on the most popular days, namely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n