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Amsterdam was flooded with tourists in 2023, so it won't allow any more hotels

Ayana Archie

Tens of thousands of people watched as dozens of colorfully decorated boats toured the Dutch capital's historic canals Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in the most popular event of a six-day Pride Amsterdam festival that attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the city. Peter Dejong/AP hide caption

Tens of thousands of people watched as dozens of colorfully decorated boats toured the Dutch capital's historic canals Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in the most popular event of a six-day Pride Amsterdam festival that attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the city.

Amsterdam's local government is cracking down on local over-tourism by putting a ban on new hotels, it said Wednesday .

New hotels can only be built if another closes down, and the city is urging developers to choose a site outside of the city center.

If a new hotel is built in place of an old one, it must be more modern or more sustainable. Twenty-six hotels that have already been issued permits will not be affected by the ban, the city said.

In Amsterdam, even the tourists say there are too many tourists

The move was triggered by Amsterdam's "Tourism in balance" policy, which was created in 2021 after a public initiative in which 30,000 residents called for more control of the tourism industry.

Under "tourism in balance," aims to limit overnight stays in hotels by tourists to 20 million a year. In 2023 tourists spent about 20.7 million nights in Amsterdam, a number that doesn't include vacation rentals, bed and breakfast stays or cruise trips. That means "the municipal executive is obliged to take action," the city says.

Amsterdam also has been attempting to curb other behaviors by tourists, including banning cannabis smoking in certain parts of the city , closing some clubs and bars earlier, placing new limits on canal cruises and converting some hotels into homes or offices.

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In Empty Amsterdam, Reconsidering Tourism

Before Covid-19, the city was packed with visitors. Now efforts to rein in the expected post-pandemic crowds are ramping up, but not without controversy.

By Paige McClanahan

When international travel came to a halt last year, Amsterdam — like cities everywhere — was drained of tourists almost overnight. The effect, according to Sonia Philipse, the owner of the restaurant Lavinia Good Food, was both surreal and serene: Without the crowds, her city was quieter and more beautiful than she had ever seen it.

“At this point we’re missing our tourists again,” Ms. Philipse said recently. “But I think there was a moment of really big joy in getting our city back.”

It’s a tension that Amsterdam has been trying to navigate for years: how to embrace its status as a vibrant, international hub without making the city unlivable for its residents — and without letting go of its famous, free-spirited roots.

Now, with visitor numbers still low, Amsterdam’s leaders are trying to introduce important new restrictions on short-term vacation rentals, sex tourism and cannabis sales to visitors — all in an effort to ensure that old problems stemming from tourism don’t reappear when visitors return.

The measures make Amsterdam one of Europe’s front-runners in taking a hands-on approach to managing tourism. But even as many locals may be enjoying the current quiet in Amsterdam, many also disagree with some of the city’s tactics.

The tipping point

The complaints from Amsterdam residents started to crop up in 2013, when tourism had fully bounced back from a downturn following the financial crisis of 2008. Locals said that tourists were being loud and disruptive in the city center; disrespecting prostitutes; occupying short-term vacation rentals that drove up housing prices; and taking over some of the city’s most beautiful, historic areas.

Visitor numbers grew steadily every year from then onward — 2020 excepted — and the pressure of all of those tourists continued to escalate. In 2019, a record-breaking 21.7 million people visited Amsterdam, a city with a population of about 870,000.

“You see this tipping point where the visitor economy causes more harm for the locals than it adds value, and then you’re in an unhealthy situation,” said Geerte Udo, the director of amsterdam&partners , a nonprofit, government-supported organization that manages tourism in the city. “We need to change everything we have on offer in the city center if we want to bring the balance back to living, working and recreating,” she said.

Before the pandemic, city leaders had already put in place a number of measures to try to mitigate the problems stemming from tourism, including a ban on guided tours of the Red Light District; a ban on new hotels in the city center; an increase in the tourist tax ; and a ban on new shops that cater to tourists. As early as 2014, Amsterdam stopped promoting itself as a destination in new markets overseas. Instead, the city’s marketing organization worked to guide and manage all of the visitors who showed up in the city.

But even with those measures in place, tourism continued to grow, and the rising numbers attracted attention. By 2019, news articles decrying surging tourist numbers mentioned Amsterdam , alongside Venice and Barcelona, as a prime example of overtourism in Europe.

Sex, cannabis and the “monoculture”

Since the pandemic hit, Amsterdam’s leaders — led by the mayor, Femke Halsema — have continued the push to regulate tourism, with a strong focus on the Red Light District, an ancient part of Amsterdam’s city center and a huge magnet for tourists.

On a typical Saturday night before the pandemic, the district, known as De Wallen, would have been heaving with young men going from bar to bar — perhaps stepping into sex shops or coffee shops or eyeing scantily clad prostitutes posing in their windows. Several Amsterdammers interviewed for this story said that they would never consider visiting the neighborhood at such a time because of the rowdy, crowded scene.

“The public space is dominated by facilities that are almost all redolent of sex, drugs and drink,” Ms. Halsema wrote of the historic city center in an official letter to the city council in July 2019. “Constantly increasing numbers of visitors, misconduct, a shrinking retail mix, rising property prices, commercialization of public space and criminal subversion all call for measures to be taken.”

In the same letter, Ms. Halsema proposed four scenarios for the future of sex work in the Red Light District. (Prostitution is legal and regulated in the Netherlands.) One of those scenarios — the relocation of sex workers to a “prostitution hotel” elsewhere in the city — has recently attracted the support of a majority of city council members. The proposal has not been fully approved, however; further discussions are scheduled this summer, a spokeswoman for the city of Amsterdam said.

Another headline-grabbing proposal from the mayor’s office would make it illegal for visitors to buy cannabis in Amsterdam’s coffee shops, which are concentrated in the Red Light District and which have long been popular with tourists. The potential effects of such a move are currently being studied, the spokeswoman said.

And last summer, in response to complaints about the rise in home sharing, the city imposed a complete ban on all short-term vacation rentals in three neighborhoods in the city center, including the Red Light District. The ban was overturned in court earlier this month, but city officials are now working to find a way to reimpose the measure legally, the spokeswoman said.

Amsterdam has also joined more than 20 other European cities to advocate stricter rules on vacation-rental platforms at the European Commission and in the European Parliament.

The measures are in line with the Dutch hands-on approach to tackling problems, the city’s deputy mayor, Victor Everhardt, said, adding that, while the pandemic had not shifted the city’s course of action, it may have accelerated its pace.

Amsterdam residents have high expectations for city life, and politicians aren’t afraid to push through new measures, Mr. Everhardt explained — even if some of those measures may end up being challenged in court. “We’re just moving ahead and dealing with the problem,” he said, adding: “There is no silver bullet.”

But some of the proposed measures have proved controversial. The idea of relocating sex workers, for instance, is widely opposed by those who work in prostitution, said Irina, a spokeswoman for PROUD , a union of about 300 prostitutes across the Netherlands.

“The problem is not with the prostitutes. We’ve been in the same area for centuries,” said Irina, who declined to share her last name, citing privacy concerns. “The issue is the exploding number of tourists coming to Amsterdam, and they’re coming for a whole bunch of reasons.”

Irina noted that the government’s Project 1012 — an initiative that closed more than 100 sex-worker windows in the Red Light District over the past decade — had done nothing to ease the neighborhood’s overcrowding or reduce disruptive behavior. Instead of focusing on prostitutes, she added, the government should put more police officers on the streets and ramp up the enforcement of existing rules against public urination, public drunkenness and disturbing the peace.

Sex workers “are being scapegoated, together with the coffee shops, for causing the problems — which we are not,” Irina said.

The mayor’s recent proposal to forbid Amsterdam’s coffee shops from selling cannabis to non-Dutch residents has similarly attracted opposition. Tourists and locals who frequent the city’s 167 licensed coffee shops come to relax, socialize, maybe play a board game — and smoke cannabis, which is decriminalized for personal use in the Netherlands. Alcoholic drinks and hard drugs are not allowed.

Joachim Helms, a coffee shop owner and spokesman for the Dutch Cannabis Retailers Association, said that the proposed ban would force visitors to buy their cannabis on the street, where they are more likely to be taken advantage of; it would also damage Amsterdam’s reputation as an international city, he said.

“If people have experienced a lot of disturbance from tourists in the city, then of course you have to look at where that disturbance comes from,” he said. “Usually, it’s guys being loud on the street and being drunk — and those aren’t typical coffee shop people.”

Support for the prostitutes and coffee shop owners was echoed in several interviews with Amsterdam residents, including Roy Van Kempen, a 31-year-old marketing manager who has lived in Amsterdam since 2008.

“Paris has the Eiffel Tower, and we have the Red Light District and this idea that everything is possible in Amsterdam. And I would like to keep it like this, actually,” he said.

But Irina, Mr. Helms, Mr. Van Kempen and half a dozen other Amsterdammers interviewed agreed that the city center has a major problem: A tourism “monoculture” has taken root, and residents are being pushed out. Businesses and services that used to cater to locals — high-quality bakeries, butcher shops, and the like — have been replaced by trinket shops, ice-cream parlors and “Nutella shops,” which serve takeaway waffles and other treats smeared in the hazelnut spread, mainly to tourists. Meanwhile, rising housing prices — due, in part, to the rise of Airbnb and other vacation rental platforms — have made the city center unaffordable for many locals.

This monoculture has been thrown into the spotlight over the past year, Ms. Udo said, adding that she had been struck by how deserted the city center has felt during the pandemic, especially compared to other parts of Amsterdam. “That was a real eye-opener,” she said. “There are not enough people living there and working there to get this liveliness back in the neighborhood when the visitors are gone.”

Marry an Amsterdammer

Alongside the restrictions proposed by the mayor’s office, city officials and some residents have also tried softer approaches to tackling the problems associated with tourism, some of which were rolled out with success before the pandemic.

One critical strategy has been to try to reach visitors before they even arrive. Amsterdam’s Enjoy and Respect campaign, which launched in 2018, targeted the primary source of the behavior problems — Dutch and British men between the ages of 18 and 34 — with messages about the fines they could incur by urinating in the street, littering or getting drunk in public areas. A subsequent survey showed that the messages had reached at least part of that audience, but measuring the campaign’s effectiveness has proved to be a challenge.

To ease overcrowding in the center, amsterdam&partners has been encouraging visitors to explore other parts of the city, such as Amsterdam Noord, where a former industrial shipyard hosts flea markets, music festivals and outdoor movie screenings in the summer. In Nieuw-West , visitors can sample local nightlife or stroll around Sloterplas Lake. But even if such areas are successful in attracting visitors, it can be difficult to get substantial numbers of tourists to move away from the most popular spots.

“People often arrive with a lot less orientation and understanding of where they’re visiting than we imagine, and hence they end up in the same city-center neighborhoods,” said Peter Jordan, head of insights at Toposophy , an agency that has advised amsterdam&partners. “That happens in cities everywhere — and it happens in Amsterdam.”

The Red Light District and other neighborhoods between the city’s Central Station and Dam Square tend to attract the biggest crowds, Mr. Jordan said, as well as the areas immediately around major attractions like the Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House. Of these, he added, the Red Light District faces the biggest challenges.

Elena Simons, one of the leaders of Amsterdam’s Reinvent Tourism movement, is working to find new and constructive ways to engage the city’s tourists. Ms. Simons is also one of the authors of “The Untourist Guide to Amsterdam” and the co-creator of a project that allows tourists to “ marry an Amsterdammer for a day.” This alternative tour, which launched in 2019, is a four-hour experience that starts with a fake wedding (rings, gown and flowers included) and includes a personalized jaunt around a lesser-known part of the city.

The point of such efforts, Ms. Simons said, is to find ways for tourists to make meaningful connections with Amsterdam residents, and even to have a positive impact on the city — whether by weeding at an urban farm or joining a weekly litter cleanup. The organization’s work was cut short by the pandemic, Ms. Simons said, but she is optimistic that interest will pick up quickly when visitors return. However, with Covid cases on the rise again in the Netherlands and many other European countries, it may still be some time before travelers from outside the Continent are able to visit.

Mr. Jordan, the tourism analyst, said that other European tourist destinations that are dealing with similar challenges could learn a lot by studying Amsterdam’s experiences.

“Something that I admire about Amsterdam is that they’ve been prepared to be honest and show that they recognize what the issues are and very visibly take steps to deal with it,” Mr. Jordan said, “because other cities haven’t necessarily got that far.”

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What you need to know when you travel to the Netherlands

News item | 20-08-2021 | 10:28

There are certain things you need to know if you’re planning to travel to the Netherlands during the current pandemic. In this article Conrad van Tiggelen, director of strategy and branding at the Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions , helps fill you in so you can properly prepare for your trip.

What is the current situation in the Netherlands?

‘The Netherlands has re-opened for the most part. Some basic rules still apply, however: avoid busy places, stay 1.5 metres away from other people, wash your hands often and – if you have symptoms – stay at home and get tested. Face masks are no longer required in most public spaces. Public transport is the only exception: everyone aged 13 or older must still wear a face mask at stations and airports, on trains, buses and ferries, and in taxis.’

Is the Netherlands ready to welcome foreign tourists again?

‘Absolutely. The Netherlands is a welcoming country and is looking forward to receiving tourists in a safe, responsible way. We’ve missed having visitors from abroad and are excited for their return. The Dutch are always happy to put their knowledge of other languages to use to help foreign visitors.’

What do tourists need to bear in mind when travelling to the Netherlands?

‘Exactly what you need to bear in mind when travelling to the Netherlands depends on where you’re travelling from, how you are travelling and whether the country you’re travelling from is on the list of safe countries and regions.’

See the information below and this checklist  for more about travelling to the Netherlands from abroad.

Find out whether you are required to self-quarantine and what documents you need when you travel via the check on reizentijdenscorona.rijksoverheid.nl . It will give you a personal travel overview, based on your travel details.

Travelling from within the EU/Schengen area

See the list of safe countries and regions in the EU/Schengen area .

• You are travelling from a place that is on the list of safe countries/regions: you may travel to the Netherlands. You do not need proof of vaccination, proof of recovery or a negative COVID-19 test result. You do not need to self-quarantine. You are, however, advised to get tested or take a self-test after you arrive.
• You are travelling from a high-risk area: you may travel to the Netherlands. If you are 12 or older you must have a Digital COVID Certificate (proof of vaccination, proof of recovery or negative COVID-19 test result) . You do not need to self-quarantine. You are advised to get tested or take a self-test after you arrive.

Travelling by air

If you are 13 or older and are travelling to the Netherlands by air, you are required to complete a health declaration form.  Download the health declaration form here .

Travelling from outside the EU/Schengen area

See the list of safe countries and regions outside the EU/Schengen area .

• You are travelling from a place that is on the list of safe countries/regions: you may travel to the Netherlands. You must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result. You do not need to self-quarantine. You are, however, advised to get tested or take a self-test after you arrive.
• You are travelling from a high-risk area:  an EU entry ban is in place for people travelling to the EU/Schengen area from places not on the list of safe countries and regions. Generally speaking you may not, therefore, travel to the Netherlands – although certain exceptions do apply. Find out who is exempt from the EU entry ban and may travel to the Netherlands. You must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result. You do not need to self-quarantine. You are advised to get tested or take a self-test after you arrive.
• You are travelling from a very high-risk area: you are required to show a negative test result and to self-quarantine. When arriving in the Netherlands after a stay in a very high-risk area, you must self-quarantine for 10 days – this applies whether or not there is a virus variant of concern in that area. And it applies even if you have proof of vaccination or proof of recovery. If you get tested on day 5 you can shorten your quarantine period.

If you are 13 or older and are travelling to the Netherlands by air, you are required to complete a health declaration form. Download the health declaration form here.

Type of negative COVID-19 test result required when travelling to the Netherlands

If you need a negative COVID-19 test result to travel to the Netherlands, it must be from either a NAAT (PCR) test conducted no more than 48 hours before your departure or an antigen test conducted no more than 24 hours before your departure. There are additional measures if you are travelling from a high risk area.  Find out more about test result requirements here.

Changing planes in the Netherlands

If you change planes in the Netherlands and you board your connecting flight within 24 hours without leaving the airport in the meantime, you do not need to show a negative COVID-19 test result. If, however, you are travelling from a very high-risk area you must have a completed and signed quarantine declaration form with you, even if you have been vaccinated.   Download the quarantine declaration form here.

If you are 13 or older and travelling to the Netherlands by air you are also required to complete a health declaration form, even if you are only changing planes. Download the health declaration form here .

Please note that in some cases you may require an airport transit visa .

You are travelling through the Netherlands by car/motorcycle and will be in the country for less than 12 hours

If you will be in the Netherlands for less than 12 hours you do not need to show a negative COVID-19 test result. If, however, you are travelling from a high-risk area you must have a completed and signed quarantine declaration form with you.  Download the quarantine declaration form here.

What should tourists bear in mind while they are visiting the Netherlands?

‘You can have a great holiday in the Netherlands. Hotels, camp sites and holiday parks are all open. There may, however, be additional rules in place. Shops, museums, amusement parks and other sights and attractions are also open, but you may need to book tickets in advance. Make sure you find out ahead of time what rules apply at your accommodation and any locations you want to visit.

Restaurants, cafés and bars are open, although guests must be assigned a seat and everyone must keep 1.5 metres apart. Establishments serving food and drink may not stay open past midnight or open before 06.00 in the morning. Nightclubs and similar venues are currently closed.

Multi-day events with overnight stays are not permitted before 20 September. One-day events are permitted subject to certain conditions. Event organisers may request that you show a COVID certificate to enter – for this the Dutch CoronaCheck app is required.’

What should tourists do if they become ill while in the Netherlands?

‘Stay in your accommodation and do not leave except to get tested. You can make an appointment to get tested by calling 0800 1202 (or +31 850 659 063 if you’re calling from a foreign phone) between 08.00 and 20.00. COVID-19 tests are free of charge in the Netherlands at all test locations run by the municipal health services (GGD). If you test positive for COVID-19, follow the instructions given to you by the healthcare professionals. If your symptoms are life-threatening, call the Dutch emergency number 112.’

What should foreign visitors bear in mind before leaving the Netherlands to return home?

‘Many countries consider the Netherlands to be a high-risk area. Your home country may therefore require you to show a negative test result when you return. Before leaving the Netherlands, always check the latest rules for entering your home country.’

Do you have any additional tips for holidaymakers travelling to the Netherlands?

‘There is a lot to explore in the Netherlands within a relatively short distance. Avoid busy places and seek out different adventures. Stray from the beaten path and discover some of our country’s lesser-known spots. Do as the locals do and explore by bike, for example. There are many places in the Netherlands where you can rent bikes (including e-bikes). Visit Holland.com for inspiration.

Another option is to take in Dutch culture in our museums, many of which now offer reduced admission. If you are planning to visit several museums, the Netherlands Museum Pass could be a good option for you – it offers unlimited access to more than 400 museums across the country. Due to the restrictions in place, museums may require you to book tickets. You should therefore plan your visit in good time to be sure you can get in during your stay in the Netherlands.’

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Amsterdam blocks construction of new hotels to fight overtourism

Dutch officials are trying to limit the number of tourists flooding amsterdam.

In another attempt to crack down on overtourism, officials in Amsterdam are banning the construction of new hotels in the Dutch capital.

The policy, announced Wednesday, only permits new hotels in a one-in, one-out system, meaning a new hotel can be built only if another closes. New hotels may not exceed the bed count of the previous hotels and must be “better,” per the city’s release, with more modern and sustainable features.

“Amsterdam says ‘no’ to new hotels,” reads a translated statement from city officials. “We want to make and keep the city livable for residents and visitors.”

The effort follows initiatives in Amsterdam to limit the influx of tourists into the city, a destination known for its tolerant drug policies, sex industry and liberated party scene.

In Amsterdam, people are not prosecuted for buying up to 5 grams of cannabis, which can be purchased in coffee shops. For years, city officials have been trying to rein in hordes of “nuisance” tourists, or those who are attracted to the city by the promise of a night of debauchery.

The city council recently implemented the “ tourism in balance in Amsterdam ” policy, which set a maximum number of overnight stays and day visits in the city, capping the annual visitor count at 20 million people per year. Wednesday’s guidance re-ups that regulation; the number of hotel nights in 2023 was 20,665,000, according to the city.

“We are now taking more measures to ensure that the number of hotel stays does not increase even further,” the city’s statement read.

Last year, seeking to curb the rowdy crowds of the Red Light District and offer residents a better night’s sleep, the city cracked down on public pot smoking in the streets and limited the hours of operation for certain restaurants and sex establishments.

Amsterdam also launched a “ Stay Away ” campaign, directly targeting British men between the ages of 18 to 35. The demographic frequents the city for “stag,” or bachelor, parties, which residents say are disruptive .

Also in 2023, city officials adopted a proposal to relocate a cruise ship terminal . In addition to addressing pollution concerns, the move sought to prevent crowds of tourists from flooding the city’s center upon docking.

It’s unclear how the city plans to enforce the new hotel construction policy; according to the release, new hotels already under construction may continue. That includes 26 hotels with existing rights.

Colleen Grablick is a writer based in D.C. Follow her on X: @colleengrablick .

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Amsterdam welcomes decline of nuisance tourism after ‘stay away’ drive

Some locals say number of stag party-type visitors is down after campaign targeting young Britons

“B rits on tour!” laughed Devon Bennett, finishing her English breakfast at the all-day brunch restaurant Greenwoods. The 23-year-old from Brighton was in Amsterdam with 20 old school friends, attracted by the city’s reputation for freedom, fun and frolics. “If weed wasn’t legal,” said her friend Chloé Bishop, “people wouldn’t come here just to get high.”

But there is some evidence that high times are ending for partying Britons, whose stag and hen nights have become a byword for tourist nuisance in Amsterdam’s red light district.

Earlier this year, the municipality made headlines with an extraordinary “dissuasion” campaign targeting British men aged 18 to 34. A search for terms such as “stag night” or “cheap hotel Amsterdam” was a trigger for dire government adverts warning that a messy night taking drugs and getting trashed in the Dutch capital could lead to a €140 fine, a criminal record and permanent health damage.

Although many Dutch pundits were critical of the campaign, research by the travel industry analyst ForwardKeys based on the International Air Transport Association (IATA) ticketing database suggests it may be working: flights between the UK and Amsterdam fell by 22% between 2019 and this year, while there were rises in destinations such as Paris and Athens. Amsterdam council says its own figures, based on World Travel & Tourism Council analysis, show a “light drop” in UK travellers in the period.

Bert Nap, a long-term city centre resident who is truly fed up with partygoers screaming at the top of their lungs and vomiting on his house, is seeing a difference . “We’ve noticed that the number of stag party-type visitors is less than before,” he said. “Just after Covid it came back full force. Then came the ‘stay away’ campaign and we have indeed noticed a decrease in the kind of visitor who goes absolutely wild.”

He added: “It was mostly British young visitors coming here in groups, on flights for less than a round of beer. Alcohol is often involved and foreign visitors, especially the English and Irish, start drinking early in the morning. People are very welcome in Amsterdam but we are not a playground for misbehaviour.”

Alongside cities such as Barcelona and Venice, Amsterdam authorities are taking dramatic measures to stop nuisance tourism, even if it means tourists staying away: in the spring they introduced earlier closing times for brothels and bars in the red light district, banned cannabis smoking on the streets and started the “stay away” campaign.

“In recent years, the municipality has taken various measures and run campaigns to limit the growth in tourism and nuisance,” a council spokesperson told the Guardian. “It’s important to stress that this is not only aimed at Britons but general measures aiming to counter a worldwide growth in nuisance tourism. So the council looks hopefully at these figures.”

Not everyone is quite so hopeful. This summer, Amsterdam did not issue a single fine for tourists breaking the ban on outdoor cannabis smoking, and while the police presence was greater on the streets when the Guardian visited, many stress that prevention is key. “It is better to combat nuisance than to be preoccupied with visitor numbers,” said Maarten Bruinsma, of the B&B association Amsterdam Gastvrij, who points out that local hosts do not want partying excesses either.

Businesses are not sure anything has changed. Theodoor van Boven, the founding director of the Condomerie shop in the red light district, quoted a WhatsApp group of owners. “One flower business has less nuisance, a chic restaurant says ‘now all you have are the absolute lowlife from England’ and another says ‘the English are the best because they always pay their bills’,” he said. “I don’t notice a big difference myself.”

Others believe the “stay away” campaign has even damaged Amsterdam’s reputation as a historic place of shelter and hospitality. Marco Lemmers, the chief executive of Conscious Hotels, points out that plans to target other countries have not yet happened, stigmatising the Britons. “People are saying that it’s a success,” he said. “But is it a success if you have made your country sound unwelcoming? From that perspective, you could certainly say they have achieved something.”

It is unusual for a country to destimulate tourism, says David Tarsh, a spokesperson for ForwardKeys, who notes that while flight restrictions at Schiphol are having an effect, ForwardKeys data does not represent cheap carriers such as easyJet, while Ryanair capacity from Manchester and Edinburgh to Eindhoven has increased. “Nearly every country in the world wants tourists,” he said. “Tourists come and spend foreign currency, it’s the easiest export revenue you can get and it’s hugely valuable for the economy and a spread of jobs.”

Lars Duursma, a communications expert who produced an alternative campaign depicting rich Britons staying away in pique, points out that Amsterdam is raising tourist taxes next year. “If the steering force at Amsterdam municipality is to have fewer tourists, a lot of people will say: watch out because they bring us a lot of money and we have financial problems right now,” he said.

The Dutch have also done nothing to tackle their own problem young men, whose hooliganism is equally notorious internationally and who are, according to Nap, “the hardest to talk to”. One travel expert believes it’s convenient to blame a group now unprotected by EU freedom of movement rights post-Brexit. “When things don’t go well, it’s basic human nature to look for someone to blame,” he said. “Maybe that’s what’s going on here to a certain extent and it usually plays well with the domestic audience because people tend to be tribal.”

On the streets of the red light district on Thursday night after Ajax had lost to Brighton in the Europa League – there were few signs that the party had abated. Rob Buckwell, 50, from Brighton, visiting with his son Ben and two friends, was in the city for an old-fashioned good time and thinks it is a shame a few idiots give Britons a bad image. “We haven’t done drugs – it’s pure adrenaline,” he said amicably. “We’re high on life!”

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2021 sees slight increase in tourism, but figures remain shockingly low

The Dutch tourism industry took a serious whack following the outbreak of coronavirus last year. While the figures are looking slightly better this year, most holidaymakers this spring  were residents of the Netherlands , and various industries continue to struggle from a lack of tourism. 

Effect of COVID-19 on Dutch tourism industry

In the second quarter of 2021, approximately 900.000 people travelled to the Netherlands for a holiday - slightly more than the figure reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) for the same period last year, but only a fraction of the number in April, May and June of 2019 (5,9 million). 

While international tourism is yet to fully take off following the outbreak of COVID-19, domestic tourism appears to be flourishing. Spring 2021 saw 7,3 residents of the Netherlands opt for holidays closer to home, a similar figure to the one reported by CBS in 2019. The provinces of Friesland and Zeeland profited the most from domestic tourism, while North Holland and Amsterdam saw the biggest dip in figures in comparison to pre-coronavirus (-68 percent).

April to June 2021 saw over eight million overnight stays in the Netherlands, double that of 2020 but also 40 percent fewer than in 2019. While the Netherlands proved a particularly popular holiday destination for travellers from neighbouring countries like Germany, the country lost out on business from travellers from the United Kingdom as well as the United States.

Museums and restaurants struggle from lack of tourists

With so many businesses across the country relying on the Netherlands' normally booming tourism industry to keep them afloat, it’s unsurprising to hear that a variety of companies have struggled over the past year. 

The Dutch capital is home to a staggering number of bars and restaurants, most of which are only able to survive as a result of the millions of tourists Amsterdam welcomes every year. These businesses suffered not only during the various coronavirus lockdowns, but also from a serious lack of customers. Financial aid from the Dutch government prevented thousands of bankruptcies, but the national catering industry shrank by 40,6 percent over the past year and a half. 

The Royal Delft Group, famous for the Royal Delft Museum in Delft and the making of traditional Delft blue porcelain, has seen profits plummet as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. While the lifting of lockdown at the start of June has given the company some hope for the future, turnover fell by 14 percent last year and sales remain low.

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Tourism value added recovered slightly in 2021

As the value added of the tourism sector in 2021 grew more rapidly than the Dutch economy as a whole, the share of tourism in the Dutch economy rose slightly, from 2.3 to 2.5 percent. This share was still 4.4 percent in 2019. Nevertheless, the value added did not increase in all tourism-related sectors. Especially the tourism-oriented parts of accommodation and food services, aviation, travel agencies and travel services showed a sharp recovery last year. In the art and culture sector, however, value added dropped even further than in 2020, the first pandemic year.

Mainly domestic tourism

In 2021, domestic and foreign tourists combined spent 5.7 billion euros more than in 2020, but still 31.9 billion euros less compared to 2019. The partial recovery mainly came from domestic tourism, which includes both domestic spending by Dutch tourists and trips abroad booked by Dutch tourists with Dutch travel companies. Inbound foreign tourism also yielded more revenue.

The recovery of the tourism sector went hand in hand with the relaxation of the coronavirus measures. In the first few months of 2021 a strict lockdown was still in place, but the various measures against the spread of COVID-19 were relaxed in the course of the year.

In 2020, tourist expenditure (adjusted for price changes) fell by 42.2 percent relative to 2019, which eliminated the growth of the preceding ten years within a short period of time. Despite partial recovery (6.0 percent), in 2021 tourist expenditure was still below the level of 2010, even after adjustment for price changes.

17.8 billion euros from inbound tourism

In 2021, spending by foreign incoming tourists amounted to 17.8 billion euros. This spending concerns not only foreign visitors but also foreign tourists booking trips outside the Netherlands using Dutch providers. Despite an increase of 2.1 billion euros relative to 2020, in 2021 these revenues were still far below pre-COVID level. In 2019, foreign tourist spending within the Dutch economy still amounted to 34.7 billion euros, nearly twice as much as in 2021. The share held by foreign tourists amounted to 29.6 percent in 2020 and 30.2 percent in 2021. In the period 2010 to 2019 inclusive, this share had risen from 25.0 to 38.2 percent.

Dutch tourist expenditure abroad slightly recovered

In 2021, just as in 2020, there was significantly less travel abroad by Dutch tourists compared to the pre-pandemic years. Various measures were in place which restricted travel abroad in both years. Spending by Dutch tourists outside the Dutch economy amounted to 7.5 billion euros in 2021. Adjusted for price changes, this is 60.4 percent below the level of 2019.

Tourism employment further down

Whereas value added and expenditure picked up again after the steep decline in the first pandemic year, tourism employment continued to decline in 2021. The labour volume in the tourism sector decreased by 4.3 percent. This was mainly seen in accommodation and food services, aviation, travel agencies and travel services. Thanks to government support measures, employment fell much less substantially than tourism expenditure and value added. A part of the staff who kept on thanks to wage support in 2020 possibly still left in 2021, reducing tourism employment further.

• StatLine - Tourism; key indicators, National Accounts
• StatLine - Tourism; expenditure, National Accounts
• StatLine - Employment; economic activity, quarterly, National Accounts

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• Privacy - CBS privacy regulations

Amsterdam bans new hotels and puts limit on overnight tourists

Amsterdam continues to crack down on overtourism by prohibiting the development of new hotels and limiting the number of travelers allowed to stay overnight in the city. 

“We want to make and keep the city livable for residents and visitors,” the Netherlands city said in an announcement last week. 

Amsterdam has had strict policies for new hotels since 2017, but the new initiative seeks to “ensure that the number of hotel stays does not increase even further,” according to the announcement.

Under the new regulation, a new hotel may only be built “under certain conditions, if a hotel closes elsewhere,” the city said. This way, the number of accomodations in the city will stay stagnant. The hotel must also “be better,” like being more sustainable. 

Traveling to Europe soon? Barcelona is another popular European city increasing its tourist tax to battle overtourism

Learn more: Best travel insurance

Twenty-six previously approved hotel projects will proceed with their construction as planned, according to the announcement. New hotels are being encouraged to be built outside the city center. 

Along with the hotel ban, the city is also limiting the number of overnight stays to 20 million for the year. 

The limit comes after residents complained of the effects of the high number of tourists. In 2023, the city experienced 20,665,000 overnight stays in hotels alone, not reflecting holiday rentals, bed and breakfasts and cruise nights. 

The regulation is the latest in a string of moves by the popular European destination to address rowdy visitors and mass tourism. This year, the city’s tourist tax increased from 7% to 12.5% – the highest in Europe. The city also banned guided tours through its famous Red Light District in 2019.

Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at [email protected] .

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Ten years of tourism growth in the Netherlands, gone!

In the latest numbers issued by the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), the tourism sector in the Netherlands is shown to contribute much less to the Dutch economy compared to 2019’s data. 📉

Tourism’s contribution to the overall Dutch economy took a sharp drop from 4.4% in 2019 to 2.4% in 2020, where both domestic and foreign tourists only spent 52 billion euros as shown in the latest data.

In describing this economic blow, chief Dutch economist Pieter Hein van Mulligen of CBS told RTL Nieuws that the situation is colossal. ⚠

Well, the coronavirus, obviously! The pandemic created chaos and exacerbated all these different reasons in an economical blender. On one hand, fewer overnight stays were booked in 2020 by domestic tourists.

As van Mulligen explains “The Dutch often went away for a day within the Netherlands, but often without an overnight stay. They also spent less than foreign tourists.” ( Are we really surprised? 😆)

Coronavirus impacts

On the other hand, overall coronavirus restrictions also affected the numbers of both domestic and foreign visitors — a blow that can be most felt by Dutch travel agencies and booking websites, where a 68% decline is reported.

Coronavirus made planning impossible

Additionally, the fluctuating coronavirus measures of the past year and a half have made planning trips ahead a small nightmare — even for the most determined travellers among us. 🧳

Are you planning to travel anytime soon? Tell us more in the comments below.

Feature Image: [email protected] / Depositphotos

We had a trip to the Netherlands planned for May, 2021, but that fell through due to Covid. This year seemed no better. We will attempt to visit again in May, 2022.

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• Tourism In The Netherlands Continues To Grow
• On August 28, 2019

Dutch Tourism News

The number of jobs in the tourism in the Netherlands sector increased by 27.000 in 2018 to a total of 79.,000, according to the CBS (Dutch Statistics Office) on Wednesday following an investigation done at the request of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Tourism spending in the Netherlands amounted to a total of 87.5 billion euros, which is 6.4 percent higher than the previous year, 2017.

Tourism Industry in the Netherlands

The economic importance of tourism for the Netherlands continues to expand. Tourism share of the Dutch economy grew to 4.4% . An increase of 0.1 percent in 2018.

The added value of the sector totalled 30.4 billion euros in 2018, 7.1 percent more than the prior year. Adjusted for inflation, that increase was 5 percent, while the Dutch economy grew by just 2.6 percent in 2018. The hospitality industry in particular contributed to the added value of the sector with an increase of more than 12 billion euros.

Dutch Tourism Statistics

Spending growth was due to spending by both foreign and domestic tourism. For Dutch tourists in their own country, spending was 2.7 billion euros higher than the prior year, with a total of 51.9 billion euros . This means an increase of 5.5 percent , which was mainly due to the lengthy hot summer. The Dutch mainly spent more on drinks and food in the hospitality industry . Spending on fuel, sports and entertainment are the next major spending categories.

Dutch people who travel abroad often first spend their money on accommodation and transport in the Netherlands. Spending amounted to 6.6 billion euros , a 5.9 percent higher amount than in 2017.

Foreign Tourism in the Netherlands

Foreign tourists increased their spending in the Netherlands by 2.5 billion euros compared to the prior year, which resulted in a total amount of 32.5 billion euros. Spending growth of this group was 8.2% higher than that of Dutch tourists. This increase is mainly due to the large number of overnight stays, but also to a growing number of foreign tourists who booked their stay or a ticket through Dutch companies. “A large proportion of these tourists did not actually travel to the Netherlands, but Dutch companies did make money from these bookings,” states the CBS.

Increase In Tourism Jobs In the Netherlands

The number of jobs in the tourism sector increased by 3.6 percent to 791.000. The tourism in the Netherlands sector now covers 7.5 percent of the total number of jobs in the Netherlands .

Amsterdam Tourism Statistics

In 2019, the Amsterdam tourism sector accounted for 69,424 jobs. In 2018 there were 69,195 jobs in the tourism-industry which was 5% more than in 2017.

In Amsterdam, 11% of all jobs are in tourism ( source ). In other words: 1 out of 9 jobs in Amsterdam are in the tourism sector.

This growth is due not only to the increase in the number of tourists, but is also attributable to leisure activities among Amsterdam residents. Example: in 2018, attraction park the Efteling had 5.3 million visitors. The Red Light District was visited by 3.1 million people ( source ). The Rijksmuseum had 2.3 million visitors and the Keukenhof attracted 1.3 million visitors. ( source )

The hospitality industry is the most widely represented, followed by sectors such as aviation, travel mediation, art and culture, sports, recreation and gambling. Retail, public transport and taxi services are the last to follow. The tourism in the Netherlands sector offers many part-time jobs. If those hours are converted to full-time jobs, the sector would account for a total of 474,000 jobs in the Netherlands in 2018 .

Others who read this article also read:  Rembrandt Paintings Explained and The Five Best Canals in Amsterdam .

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New Schengen Visa Rules for Indian Visitors: Key Questions Answered 

Peden Doma Bhutia , Skift

April 23rd, 2024 at 5:39 AM EDT

Destinations value Indian travelers, but lengthy visa processing times lasting months act as significant deterrents. The adoption of these new regulations by European authorities reflects a proactive effort to tackle these concerns, aiming to boost tourism flow.

Peden Doma Bhutia

The European Commission has introduced a new visa “cascade” regime for Indian nationals applying for Schengen visas in India. This regime looks to offer longer-term, multi-entry Schengen visas, based on the applicant’s travel history.

Indian travel agents had been complaining of Schengen visa delays as a major challenge to the summer travel rush from India.

• How does one qualify for the longer duration visas?

The European Commission can issue a two-year multiple-entry visa after a traveler “has obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years.” This demonstrates a positive travel history and compliance with previous visa regulations.

Subsequently, after granting the two-year visa, authorities may issue a five-year visa if the passport has has adequate validity remaining.

• What benefits do holders of these extended visas enjoy?

During the validity period of these visas, holders can enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals within the Schengen area, allowing for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

• Which countries are part of the Schengen area?

The Schengen area comprises 29 European countries, including 25 European Union member states: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, and Sweden. Additionally, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland are also part of the Schengen area.

• Are there any restrictions or conditions to these visas?

Schengen visas do not grant the right to work within the Schengen area and are for short stays only. Additionally, the visas are not purpose-bound, providing flexibility for travel within the specified period.

Industry Take

Skift also spoke to players in the Indian outbound travel industry to understand what has changed in the new Schengen visa rules.

• How is this different from the earlier visas that Schengen countries offered? Don’t they already offer multi-entry visas with longer duration to Indians?

Mahendra Vakharia, managing director of Pathfinders Holidays, said there was no standard policy of Schengen states for issuing these long-term visas earlier. Switzerland, France, Netherlands, Italy and Spain usually issued long-term visa, but it was all subjective. “With this new policy it should be a standard rule now,” Vakharia said.

• Travelers mainly complain of longer processing times, has that changed?

Here too, there is no standard processing time as it varies from country to country, according to Vakharia. “France and Spain have been processing visas within four days, and then there’s Croatia, which takes 60 days,” he said.

Processing time will not change as of now, it will take time for the visa rules to be enforced, said an industry source, while highlighting that the visa would be especially useful for corporate travelers.

What Promoted The Move?

Speaking on the possible motivations, Vakharia acknowledged various reasons, including administrative capacity constraints at embassies to cater to the huge inflow of applications.

“As there is an overwhelming demand from Indian travelers, the process of securing visa appointments has posed significant challenges , especially for travelers residing in cities lacking VFS Global centers,” he said.

The European Commission said in an statement that the decision reflects the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, aimed at fostering comprehensive cooperation on migration policy. Facilitating people-to-people contacts is a key aspect of this agenda, acknowledging India’s importance as an EU partner.

The decision also reflects a realization of the strong economic benefits derived through the spending power of Indian tourists. As Vakharia aptly puts it, “Why let go of the Golden Indian Goodie Bag?”

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Tags: asia monthly , europe , european commission , European summer travel , european union , india , india outbound , schengen , visa , visas

Photo credit: Park Guell in Spain. Unlike many Schengen countries, Spain has been processing visas within four days for Indian travelers. Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz / Pexels

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New ‘Dutch Day’ on Every Cruise Celebrates Holland America Line’s Heritage with Themed Culinary Experiences

Daelmans Stroopwafel partnership offers a variety of sweet treats, while new special menus and the Orange Party highlight Holland America Line’s rich Dutch history

Seattle, Wash., April 26, 2024 — Holland America Line is introducing a new “Dutch Day” experience that celebrates the cruise line’s more than 150-year-history that began in the Netherlands. Whether sailing in Alaska, Europe, Asia or the Caribbean, many Dutch culinary favorites will be featured on board for the special day.

The centerpiece of Dutch Day will be a themed Dutch Dinner served once per cruise in the main Dining Room, with many of the dishes also offered in the casual Lido Market. Additionally, Holland America Line's popular Orange Party will be held on Dutch Day, and guests can enjoy fresh-made poffertjes in Crow’s Nest Café.  A new partnership with Daelmans Stroopwafel includes delectable desserts featuring the Dutch staple and a Daelmans Stroopwafel turn-down pillow treat in every stateroom.

“Holland America Line remains deeply connected to our roots in the Netherlands, and Dutch Day is the perfect way to honor our history through experiences that celebrate the culinary culture of the country,” said Michael Stendebach, vice president of food, beverage and rooms division for Holland America Line. “Our guests appreciate special touches like Daelmans Stroopwafel for turn down or a dish in the dining room that is distinctly Dutch, and we’re excited to expand the cultural experience for an entire day to showcase more of our heritage.”

Culinary traditions run deep in the Netherlands, and the special themed Dutch Dinner in the Dining Room features an extensive menu that includes both classic and contemporary Dutch delicacies. The selection of starters features a Bay Shrimp Cocktail with Dutch cocktail sauce, Erwten Soep (Dutch Pea Soup), and Mushroom Cream puff pastry with hollandaise sauce.

Dutch-inspired main course selections include Bami Goreng, a stir-fried noodle dish with chicken sate and peanut sauce; Pan-Fried Dover Sole with lemon butter; and Hodge Podge Klapstuk with chateau potatoes. For dessert, a Bosche Bol (large, chocolate covered cream puff), Tompouce (Dutch mille-feuille pastry) or a slice of traditional Dutch Apple Pie provide the perfect sweet ending to the meal. 

In collaboration with Daelmans Stroopwafels — a family-owned bakery founded in the Netherlands in 1904, renowned for its authentic recipe —Dutch Day will feature Stroopwafel Cheesecake for dessert on the dinner menu in the Dining Room and Lido Market and a Stroopwafel Napoleon at tea time. Select bars will serve a Stroopwafel Liqueur with hints of cinnamon and caramel only on ships in Europe. Additionally, in place of the traditional stateroom turn-down chocolate, guests will find a Daelmans Stroopwafel waiting for them on their pillow.

New in Crow’s Nest Café on all ships, fresh-made poffertjes — a traditional Dutch treat resembling small, fluffy pancakes — will be available daily (not just on Dutch Day) for a nominal charge.

Popular Orange Party Held on Dutch Day

Once per cruise, Holland America Line holds the Orange Party with live music, cocktails and treats, and now it will be held on Dutch Day. The Orange Party pays homage to the company’s Dutch heritage (orange is the color of the Dutch Royal Family, which hails from the House of Orange), and guests are invited to wear orange attire and accessories. During the after-dinner festivities, special orange-themed cocktails are available while servers pass around finger-foods and sweets.

Dutch Day is part of Holland America Line’s programming that offers authentic experiences to immerse guests in the culture, history and traditions of the places visited on each cruise.