Amsterdam locals plan legal action against mass tourism

A group called “Amsterdam has a Choice” says the city is not doing enough to control mass tourism. They are planning to take legal action and will send a formal notice to the local government as a first step.

In 2021, the Amsterdam city council set a rule to limit tourist overnight stays to 20 million per year. But in the last two years, this number was crossed. This year, even the lowest forecast is over 23 million stays, and it could go up to 26 million. For 2026, the numbers may rise even more.

In a public letter, the group said mass tourism is damaging the city. Local shops are being replaced by souvenir stores, sidewalks are too crowded, and the unique atmosphere of Amsterdam is fading.

They added, “Tourism is a beautiful thing and part of Amsterdam’s charm, but it must be kept in balance.”

This group was behind the original 2021 petition that led to the tourism cap, signed by 30,000 people. Since then, the city has made some efforts, like raising tourist taxes and banning river cruises. But the group says this is not enough.

One of the group leaders, Jasper van Dijk, said, “I follow the rules as a resident. The city should follow its own rules too.”

The formal notice will be sent to Alderman Sofyan Mbarki on Monday, who has two weeks to respond. If not, the group plans to take the city to court.

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