City leaders in Amsterdam have announced a significant increase in tourist taxes, positioning them as the highest in Europe. The overnight tax is set to rise by 12.5% on hotel room prices, and cruise ship passengers will now pay €11 per person, up from the previous €8.
The municipal authorities have justified this increase as a measure to bolster funds for financing shelters for the impoverished and healthcare organisations. “We don’t need to increase the costs for our inhabitants, but we will charge visitors a bit more,” stated Finance Manager Hester van Buren, as reported by local media.
Amsterdam has implemented various measures to curb tourism, particularly in its overcrowded city centre, aiming to limit the number of visits to 20 million annually. This year, the city has prohibited cannabis smoking in the streets of the Red Light District, imposed earlier closing times for bars and public houses, and announced plans to limit accommodation facilities.
The City Council has also endorsed plans to relocate cruise ships away from the city centre. Meanwhile, Mayor Femke Halsema continues to work on her controversial proposal to move sex workers and their clients from the renowned district where they have traditionally operated.